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“This was a horrific and senseless act of violence that stole two innocent lives and forever changed a family," District Attorney Vern Pierson said.

ISLAMABAD — After Iran claimed it had refused to attend a second round of peace talks on Sunday, Tehran is now “willing for a second round” of negotiations — and its bluster so far is mere posturing for the best deal possible, Pakistani sources exclusively told The Post on Monday. Iran on Sunday had publicly...

Xi Urges Immediate Opening Of Hormuz Strait For First Time, In Call With Saudi Crown Prince

China's President Xi Jinping on Monday demanded the uninterrupted passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz in a phone call with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, state news agency Xinhua reports. He urged the normalization of shipping traffic after about 50 days of disruption which obviously and significantly impacts Chinese oil imports.

"Normal navigation through the Strait of Hormuz should be maintained, this is in the shared interests of regional countries and the international community," Xi said, in the statement also carried by AFP. He called for an immediate, comprehensive ceasefire and insisted disputes be resolved through political and diplomatic means.

Getty Images

He added that China will deepen strategic mutual trust with Saudi Arabia and expand practical cooperation. 

South China Morning Post observes that it was "the first time the Chinese leader had called for the reopening of the strategically vital waterway, which has been repeatedly blockaded since US-Israeli strikes on Iran began on February 28."

China imported 5.86 million tons of crude oil from Saudi Arabia, down 10% from February, according to customs data released Monday.

As for where things stand on the negotiations front, Iran hesitated over sending diplomats to Pakistan for a second round of peace talks after the US maintained a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and seized an Iranian vessel, after apparently firing on it, undermining prospects for a breakthrough to end the war. Initially it appeared to shut the door on second talks, however per Associated Press Monday morning:

Iranian authorities have expressed willingness to send a delegation for a second round of talks in Islamabad this week, two Pakistani officials said Monday.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media, said there is cautious optimism that delegations from both Iran and the United States could travel to Islamabad.

The US side would reportedly once again be headed up by Vice President JD Vance - who during the first round cut out early after a serious impasse was reached on the nuclear issue.

The tumultuous weekend events followed Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi having posted on X on Friday that the Strait of Hormuz was "completely open". By Sunday morning, Bloomberg ship tracking data had showed tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz was largely ground to a halt. Also, the prior 24 hours had seen multiple incidents of tankers making U-turns, and added to all this a senior Iranian official renewed threats to close the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

According to a quick review of some other developments Monday morning and per emerging market data, China will import a record volume of US ethane this month as petrochemical producers switch feedstocks after the Middle East war disrupted critical supplies.

Recall that by mid-March Trump was actually asking for China's help to get the blocked Strait of Hormuz reopened...

Trump said China should help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, arguing Beijing depends heavily on oil flowing through the waterway.

“I think China should help too because China gets 90 per cent of its oil from the Straits.”

He warned he wants Beijing’s position before his planned… pic.twitter.com/ZbtxAppcqO

— Clash Report (@clashreport) March 16, 2026

And in the broader region, Singapore is securing additional liquefied natural gas from outside the Middle East as the conflict in Iran constrains regional supply, according to a government body. India authorized more Russian insurers to cover vessels calling at its ports and extended permits for others as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupts energy shipments from the Persian Gulf.

The International Energy Agency has meanwhile said that global power consumption rose 3% last year, driven in part by rapid demand growth from electric vehicles and data centers, according to the International Energy Agency.

Tyler Durden Mon, 04/20/2026 - 08:05

Whether the tech billionaire will attend the interview requested by Paris prosecutors remains to be seen.

Edwin Diaz didn't record a single out in the Los Angeles Dodgers' loss to the Colorado Rockies. Because of his importance to the team, the performance sounded alarm bells.

The actor suffered a fatal heart attack over the weekend. The "Days of Our Lives" alum was 57 years old.

The actor suffered a fatal heart attack over the weekend. The "Days of Our Lives" alum was 57 years old.

Immortal Dragons CEO Boyang Wang told The Post his goal is to invest in “moonshot initiatives,” with big risks and big rewards.

President Trump says peace talks with Iran could begin soon, but Tehran is pushing back, raising doubts about whether negotiations will happen. As tensions rise and a ceasefire deadline looms, Trump warns of severe consequences if no deal is reached. In Shreveport, Louisiana, the community is mourning eight children after 31-year-old Army veteran Shamar Elkins...

Psychedelic Stocks Soar After Trump Order; RBC Says Commercialization Path Could Accelerate

Psychedelic drug stocks soared in premarket trading in New York after President Trump signed an executive order aimed at accelerating research and expanding access to therapies used for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

"The executive order I'm signing, we're actually signing the executive order today, is really a moment," Trump said at the signing event. "These treatments are currently in the advanced stages of clinical trials to ensure that they're both safe and effective for the American patients."

President Trump signed an executive order directing the FDA to expedite review of psychedelic drugs like ibogaine, which advocates say could treat PTSD and other mental health conditions https://t.co/vBk8EoguVF pic.twitter.com/AEW6V2merr

— Reuters (@Reuters) April 18, 2026

Trump's order, signed on Saturday, directs the FDA to prioritize review of certain breakthrough-designated psychedelic therapies, expands potential access under the Right to Try Act, commits at least $50 million in federal funding for state partnerships, and encourages closer coordination among HHS, the FDA, the VA, and private-sector researchers.

"In many cases, these experimental treatments have shown life-changing potential for those suffering from severe mental illness and depression, including our cherished veterans," Trump said, citing the veteran suicide rate.

The order also instructs the Justice Department to move quickly on rescheduling any psychedelic-based product that successfully completes Phase 3 trials and receives FDA approval.

Trump continued, "And the nice part is we're actually doing this early, but it has been going on. Research has been going on for quite some time. But, you know, usually with things like this, nothing ever happens, no matter how the research ends up, but we're changing that. This order will clear away unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles, improve data sharing among the FDA and the Department of Veterans Affairs, and facilitate fast rescheduling of any psychedelic drugs that become FDA-approved." 

Accelerating Medical Treatments for Serious Mental Illness🇺🇸@JoeRogan: "For 56 years we've lived under those terrible conditions. We're free of that now. Thanks to all these people... and thanks to President Trump." https://t.co/j1tkGACSM7 pic.twitter.com/aQmZl3z4PG

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 18, 2026

Oppenheimer analyst Jay Olson told clients that Trump's weekend executive order "represents a structural inflection point for the U.S. psychedelics sector by facilitating research, regulatory timelines, and patient access, which reinforces our positive outlook."

In response, psychedelic drug stocks in premarket trading, such as Compass Pathways jumped 24.5%, Atai Beckley gained 28%, Definium Therapeutics rose 13%, and GH Research added 17%. 

"The path to commercialization could be even faster now," RBC analyst Brian Abrahams told clients, adding that the executive order "accelerates psychedelics as the key next wave of mental health treatments."

Abrahams' research covers Definium Therapeutics, Compass Pathways, and GH Research. He said those stocks are likely to benefit the most.

Jefferies analyst Andrew pointed out that with the federal government increasingly aligned on psychedelics, "investor mindshare should rise meaningfully ahead of potential approvals in 2027-30."

This marks another big win for the psychedelic space.

Tyler Durden Mon, 04/20/2026 - 07:45

The last time Giants general manager Joe Schoen held two top-10 picks in the NFL Draft, he treated them like a pair. Schoen drafted edge Kayvon Thibodeaux (at No. 5) instead of an offensive tackle because there were two offensive tackles with virtually the same grade on the Giants’ draft board — Evan Neal (No....

It looks like the Eagles will finally move on from Eagles star receiver A.J. Brown. ESPN reports that Brown will “likely” be traded to the Patriots once the calendar turns to June 1, with the report pointing out that after that date, his salary becomes much easier to trade. Both the Eagles and Patriots have...

Known as "Bobo" among his loved ones, per Deadline, a friend described him as “endlessly generous — with his poetry, his humor, and his unmistakable presence."

Known as "Bobo" among his loved ones, per Deadline, a friend described him as “endlessly generous — with his poetry, his humor, and his unmistakable presence."

Complaints are at a high volume — and New Yorkers are ear-ritated.

"Some days I do feel a little bit of pressure."

New York’s city comptrollers are supposed to safeguard taxpayer dollars, but many have treated the city pension funds they oversee as their own play money — and Mark Levine is no different. Thursday, Levine announced that he’ll skim $4 billion in pension-fund cash to boost “affordable housing,” in response to a “worsening housing crisis.” Huh?...

In this installment of Ask An Expert, Carly Stern cuts through the hype and takes your burning metabolism questions straight to Dr. Priya Jaisinghani at NYU Langone Health. Are “fat-burning” superfoods fact — or just another wellness myth? The answers might surprise you, as one expert breaks down what’s really happening inside your body every...

"This $150 fare has nothing to do with fairness. It's institutional price gouging. It's usually illegal," said state Assemblyman Brian Bergen, who represents municipalities in northern New Jersey.

British police have arrested two teenagers in connection with a weekend arson attack on a synagogue in northwest London, as Jewish leaders express concern about a wave of incidents targeting their community.