RESCUE MISSION: Trump Admin Deploys U.S. Plane to Cuba to Rescue 10-Year-Old Utah Child Allegedly Kidnapped by Trans Father for Forced Medical Transition

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/04/rescue-mission-trump-admin-deploys-u-s-plane/

The Trump administration took the extraordinary step of sending a U.S. government aircraft to Cuba to recover a 10-year-old American child at the center of a disturbing custody battle involving gender identity and plans for medical transition.

According to court filings and a DOJ announcement, 42-year-old Rose Inessa-Ethington, the child’s biological father, who identifies as a transgender woman and previously went by Eri Ethington, along with partner Blue Inessa-Ethington, 32, took the 10-year-old boy (and reportedly Blue’s 3-year-old child) under false pretenses during what was supposed to be a family camping trip to Canada.

Instead, the pair allegedly fled to Mexico and then on to Havana, Cuba, with $10,000 in cash, raising immediate alarms that the boy was being transported for “gender reassignment surgery prior to puberty.”

A Utah court had already granted the biological mother, identified as “LB,” exclusive custody and ordered the immediate return of the child. But the trans couple ignored the ruling and went on the run.

The FBI, under the Trump administration’s direction, coordinated with Cuban authorities, who actually assisted in locating and arresting the pair on April 16, and sent a Department of Justice Boeing 757 directly to Cuba on Monday to bring the boy home safely. He has now been reunited with his biological mother.

The two suspects face federal charges of international parental kidnapping.

The DOJ announcement reads: Continue…

Appeals Court Sides With Texas on 10 Commandments in Classroom, Overruling Lower Court

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/04/appeals-court-sides-texas-10-commandments-classroom-overruling/

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the state of Texas can require the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms, marking a victory for upholding the nation’s Christian foundation of the law.

The 9-8 decision overrules a preliminary injunction put in place by a federal district court judge in November, who concluded that “displaying the Ten Commandments on the wall of a public-school classroom as set forth in S.B. 10 [Senate Bill 10] violates the [First Amendment’s] Establishment Clause.”

The First Amendment says in part that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” But the Supreme Court has ruled that the Amendment’s protections apply to state law.

In the 5th Circuit’s majority opinion, Judge Stuart Kyle Duncan wrote, “To Plaintiffs, merely exposing children to religious language is enough to make the displays engines of coercive indoctrination. We disagree.”

“S.B. 10 authorizes no religious instruction and gives teachers no license to contradict children’s religious beliefs (or their parents’). No child is made to recite the Commandments, believe them, or affirm their divine origin.” Continue…

TRUMP STOPS EXECUTIONS: Eight Women Protesters SPARED in Iran After Last-Minute Intervention

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/04/trump-stops-executions-eight-women-protesters-spared-iran/

President Donald Trump announced that eight women protesters in Iran facing execution will NOT be put to death after his direct intervention.

On Tuesday, Trump urged the Iranian regime to release the detainees:

“To the Iranian leaders, who will soon be in negotiations with my representatives: I would greatly appreciate the release of these women. I am sure that they will respect the fact that you did so. Please do them no harm! Would be a great start to our negotiations!!!”

Just one day after President Trump publicly demanded their release on Truth Social as a goodwill gesture ahead of critical negotiations, the President announced the life-saving breakthrough.

Trump announced on Truth Social that the executions scheduled for tonight have been halted. Four of the women will be released immediately, and the other four will receive only one-month prison sentences. Continue…

ENERGY WARS: Russia Will Shut Flow of Druzhba Pipeline Oil Into Germany

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/04/energy-wars-russia-will-shut-flow-druzhba-pipeline/

Druzhba means ‘friendship’, which is nowhere to be found these days.

Today, Ukraine restarted the flow of Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia through the Druzhba pipeline that it kept shut to further boost the election of Péter Magyar.

In exchange for that, the EU was finally able to approve the long-awaited 90 billion Euro loan to Kiev – although it must be noted that both Budapest and Bratislava ‘opted-out’, meaning no Hungarian or Slovak money is part of it.

But there isn’t time to celebrate because, also today, Russia announced that it will close a major oil pipeline into Germany. Continue…

BREAKING: Secretary of the Navy John Phelan FIRED

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/04/breaking-secretary-navy-john-phelan-abruptly-resigns/

The Secretary of the Navy John Phelan on was fired by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Wednesday.

Undersecretary Hung Cao will become Acting Secretary of the Navy, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell announced.

Full statement from Sean Parnell: Continue…

JUST IN: DHS Assistant Secretary for Counterterrorism Placed on Leave Amid Allegations She Used “Sugar Daddies” to Fund Lavish Lifestyle

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/04/dhs-assistant-secretary-counterterrorism-placed-leave-having-sugar/

A Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for counterterrorism was placed on administrative leave for having multiple “sugar daddies.”

The Daily Mail on Wednesday revealed that Julia Varvaro, 29, was under investigation for using ‘sugar daddies’ to maintain a lavish lifestyle.

Varvaro allegedly demanded designer handbags, expensive jewelry, and luxury trips from her sugar daddies.

One man who dated Varvaro, identified as “Robert B,” triggered the investigation after he complained to the DHS watchdog over claims that she bilked him for tens of thousands of dollars.

“I did not want a sugar daddy/prostitution relationship, after spending $30,000-$40,000 for vacations, Cartier jewelry, expensive handbags, and various shopping trips,” Robert B. wrote in a complaint to the IG, according to The Daily Mail.

“She also told me directly that the $40,000 worth of jewelry on her wrists and ears are all trophies from her sugar daddies,” he wrote. “I believe that she’s under financial stress and that her actions pose a security risk.”

Robert B said Varvaro had a profile on a sugar daddy website. Varvaro denied she was on a sugar daddy/sugar baby website.

Varvaro hit back and called Robert B a bitter ex-boyfriend. She said she did nothing wrong by going on vacation with a boyfriend.

The Daily Mail reported: Continue…

Tanker Seizures By Iran Don't Breach Ceasefire: White House

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/tanker-seizures-iran-dont-breach-truce-white-house

Not only did President Trump this week unilaterally extend the Iran ceasefire by at least three to five days (upon initial announcement), but he has refrained from ordering new attacks against the Islamic Republic even as the IRGC navy continued intercepting foreign tankers.

By Tuesday, he had extended the ceasefire indefinitely, writing on Truth Social: "Based on the fact that the Government of Iran is seriously fractured, not unexpectedly so and, upon the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, of Pakistan, we have been asked to hold our Attack on the Country of Iran until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal."

On Wednesday, Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) had targeted two cargo vessels - the MSC Francesca and the Epaminondas, a Greek-owned ship, and forced them to Iran's coast, effectively seizing them.

Iran's interceptions of 'unauthorized' vessels as it tries to maintain its side of the blockade has not abated, but has only intensified, and yet there's no bombs away from the US or Israel.

This has left pundits wondering why the act of brazen tanker seizures by Iran does not constitute a ceasefire violation in Washington's eyes. Both the US President and his Press Secretary have responded and explained: Continue…

UK High Court Backs Facial Recognition Rollout

https://www.zerohedge.com/technology/uk-high-court-backs-facial-recognition-rollout

Yesterday evening, the UK’s High Court ruled in favour of the Metropolitan Police in a legal challenge pertaining to the use of Live Facial Recognition Technology (LFR) across London’s transport network.

The case had been brought by Silkie Carlo of Big Brother Watch and Shaun Thompson, a youth worker who was previously misidentified by the technology, “over concerns it could be used arbitrarily or in a discriminatory way”.

Specifically, their lawyers argued that the current powers claimed by police governing the use of LFR would breach articles 8, 10 & 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR),

But the High Court judges said “nah”, and dismissed the challenge in favour of the police.

Shocking, right?

The establishment judges voted in favour of the establishment cops using technology to violate people’s rights in the name of protecting the establishment.

‘Cause for a second there we didn’t know which way that might go. Continue…

Outrage After Von Der Leyen Groups Turkey Into Malign Axis With Russia, China

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/outrage-after-von-der-leyen-groups-turkey-malign-axis-russia-china

Turkey's government as well as some members of the European Parliament on Wednesday criticized recent remarks by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen suggesting Europe should not fall under the influence of Russia, Turkey, or China - calling the comments misleading and divisive.

Von der Leyen on Monday had casually grouped NATO member Turkey with China and Russia as malign influences on the continent, which contradicts the fact that the EU has relied on Turkey to play a key diplomatic role in the Ukraine war, as well as to absorb war refugees from the Middle East.

She had in the remarks declared that the EU "must succeed in completing the European continent so that it is not influenced by Russia, Turkey or China." Continue…

Nuclear Fuel Consortium To Provide Update On Approved Plans of Action

https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/nuclear-fuel-consortium-provide-update-approved-plans-action

The Department of Energy's (DOE’s) Nuclear Fuel Defense Production Act (DPA) Consortium will be meeting on Thursday morning to “provide updates to the public on the progress of the Consortium and provide commentary on approved Plans of Action”.

Trump: "The US is going heavy into nuclear. I wasn't a fan of nuclear, but the safety progress they've made with nuclear is unbelievable. We are very much into the world of nuclear energy"

— zerohedge (@zerohedge) January 21, 2026

We've been covering the Nuclear Fuel Consortium's meetings since their initial get together in October. The consortium has met multiple times since then behind closed doors and has offered little insight as to what progress is being made to address the underlying issue of a lack of a domestic nuclear fuel chain in the United States, a lack which the following comprehensive chart shows in all its shocking glory.

The consortium is looking to address the shortages across the nuclear fuel supply chain from mining through milling, conversion, enrichment, deconversion, fabrication, recycling, and reprocessing. Parallel progress has been made in various forms over the past few months. Continue…

UK, France Lead 30-Nation Military Push To Reopen Strait Of Hormuz

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/uk-france-lead-30-nation-military-push-reopen-strait-hormuz

The UK is hosting (yesterday and today) a two-day multinational conference convening military planners from more than 30 countries as Britain and France renew efforts to re-open the Strait of Hormuz.

The two-day conference takes place just after U.S. President Donald Trump late on Tuesday extended the U.S.-Iran ceasefire until negotiations with Iran conclude “one way or the other.”

President Trump has also ordered that the U.S. blockade at the Strait of Hormuz remains in place.

Hopes of U.S.-Iran negotiations resuming as early as Wednesday were dashed after reports emerged that the trip of U.S. Vice President JD Vance to Pakistan, which hosted the previous round of failed talks, has been put on hold.

As of early Wednesday, there were no signs that the talks could resume soon.

The U.S. is keeping the naval blockade outside the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has called a “siege” and a violation of the ceasefire.

he UK, which early this month hosted the first such meeting, said that this week’s conference is part of the UK and French leadership of a multinational coalition to reopen the Strait.

“The sessions will advance military plans to reopen the Strait, as soon as conditions permit, following a sustainable ceasefire agreement,” the UK government said in a statement.

“The task, today and tomorrow, is to translate the diplomatic consensus into a joint plan to safeguard freedom of navigation in the Strait and support a lasting ceasefire,” UK Defence Secretary John Healey said ahead of the conference.

“International trade, energy security and the stability of the global economy depend on freedom of navigation,” the UK official added.

“By building on our common purpose, strengthening multinational coordination and planning for effective collective action, we can help reopen the Strait, stabilise the global economy and protect our people.”

China Tests Directed Energy Beam That Recharges Drones Mid-Flight

https://www.zerohedge.com/technology/china-tests-directed-energy-beam-recharges-drones-mid-flight

A Chinese research team has successfully tested a wireless power transfer system that beams energy from the ground to a drone in flight using microwaves.

The setup relies on a mobile emitter that directs energy to an antenna array mounted beneath the aircraft, enabling continuous power delivery without physical connections. Notably, the experiment maintained stable transmission even while both the drone and the ground unit were moving, marking a step beyond static demonstrations. Continue…

U.S. Deploys Ukrainian Acoustic Sensors, Interceptor Drones At Prince Sultan Air Base

https://www.zerohedge.com/military/us-deploys-ukrainian-acoustic-sensors-interceptor-drones-prince-sultan-air-base-plug

Last month's Iranian drone strike on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia appears to have inflicted a costly toll on U.S. forces in the region. The attack destroyed a U.S. Air Force E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft and damaged multiple KC-135 refueling tankers, highlighting a major gap in U.S. air defenses against cheap attack drones.

Nearly a month after the drone strike on Prince Sultan Air Base, and following multiple reports that Ukrainian drone forces had been shifted into the region, Reuters confirmed Wednesday morning that the U.S. has deployed Ukrainian counter-drone technology to defend against Iranian-developed Shahed drones.

At the center of this new security effort to fortify the airspace above Prince Sultan Air Base against low-cost Iranian one-way attack drones is Sky Map, a Ukrainian command-and-control platform used to detect incoming drones. The coordinated response to Shaheds is the use of interceptor drones.

"There have been longstanding gaps in U.S. air and missile defense coverage around the world," said Timothy Walton, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Hudson Institute think tank. "This has been well understood. However, it hasn't been addressed."

Ukrainian drone experts reportedly traveled to the base in recent weeks to train U.S. personnel on Sky Map and the use of interceptor drones.

Sky Fortress, the Ukrainian company behind Sky Map, has been active extensively in the Eastern European theater, with more than 10,000 acoustic sensors deployed to detect Russian drone attacks.

The bigger story here is that Ukraine is emerging as a major dealer of the latest low-cost weapon technology forged through four years of war with Russia:

• Zelensky Goes Full "Lord Of War" As Ukraine Pitches Battle-Tested War Robots To Highest Bidder

• Zelensky's Interceptor Drones Deployed Across Eurasia, Now Shooting Down Iranian Shaheds

• Ukraine Becomes World's AI Weapons Laboratory

Our assessment is that, if we had to get granular, passive acoustic counter-drone detection will become a standard layer of air defense for U.S. military bases, data centers, critical U.S. infrastructure, and government buildings in the years ahead. As cheap attack drones proliferate, adopting passive acoustic sensing systems for early warning will help close the air-defense gap against them. Just wait until these early-detection systems are paired with 'micro' sentry guns and fully automated AI kill chains.