Headlines

• Prime Minister Mark Carney’s federal government did not immediately respond to the development.

Edmonton, May 4 (AP).– Alberta separatists said Monday they have formally submitted almost 302,000 signatures to try to trigger a referendum on the province leaving Canada.

The group needed 178,000 signatures to force the province to consider such a vote.

The question of separation could go on a provincewide ballot as early as October, as Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has said she would move forward if enough names are gathered and verified.

• A definitive commitment from Iran not to build nuclear weapons and to cease uranium enrichment beyond the 40% limit is the US minimum condition for entering into negotiations with Iran.
• The US-Israeli combined air campaign against Iran to this point has degraded the Iranian ability to project force and thus satisfied a key military objective.

Some US 5th Fleet warships entered the Persian Gulf last week

Riyadh, Apr.27 (DPnet).– On Sunday, April 26, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made a significant diplomatic move by traveling to Muscat, Oman, to engage in crucial discussions about security in the Strait of Hormuz with Omani Sultan Haitham al Tariq. This visit was followed by his trip to Islamabad, Pakistan, where he addressed Iran's essential preconditions for negotiations with the United States with local mediators. These preconditions prominently include the urgent lifting of the US blockade on Iranian ports.

Notably, IRGC-affiliated media revealed that during these discussions, Araghchi emphasized the need for a "new legal regime" governing the Strait of Hormuz, sought compensation for war damages, and requested assurances against future US attacks. Alarmingly, there was no mention of Iran’s nuclear program, a pivotal concern for US policymakers.

Adding to the tension, US President Donald Trump revealed that Iran offered a "much better" proposal just ten minutes after he canceled the planned trip of US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Islamabad for talks with Iran on April 25. Trump noted that this new proposal, which involves Iran's commitment to renounce nuclear weapons, still falls short of what is needed to advance negotiations. This situation underscores the urgency for a constructive dialogue that addresses both security and nuclear capabilities in the region.

• Suspect sent "manifesto" to family before dinner.
• This marks the third serious threat against President Donald Trump’s life. 

Apr. 26 (DPnet).– A man taken into custody after gunfire rang out at the annual White House Correspondents' Assn. dinner on Saturday was identified by law enforcement sources as 31-year-old Cole Thomas Allen, of Torrance, a coastal community in southwestern Los Angeles County. 

The event was attended by President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and all cabinet members, along with journalists, lawmakers, and public figures. The scene at the annual event in Washington turned chaotic when Allen dashed toward the dining area and was met with gunfire. The suspect fired two shots before being taken down by authorities. One officer who was wearing a bulletproof vest was shot and injured.

Acting Attorney General, Todd Blanche, said the suspect revealed he was targeting President Trump and other members of the Trump administration. Allen wrote a "manifesto" which stated he wanted to specifically target administration officials, according to other law enforcement and White House officials.

Authorities also found anti-Trump and anti-Christian rhetoric on the suspect's social media accounts when searcching his home, the official said. Cole Allen sent some of his writings to members of his family before the attempted attack on Saturday, and one of them alerted police about the writings.

Russian influence is replacing French influence in several Central African nations, amid the alarming growth of radical Islamist movements.

Lagos, Apr.25 (DPnet).– In Mali, West Africa, armed groups have launched one of the largest coordinated attacks seen in recent years, targeting multiple cities across the country. The rebel forces include Islamist militants linked to Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an Al-Qaeda-affiliated group, along with Tuareg rebels from the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) and Boko Haram terrorists affiliated with ISIL (ISIS).

The attacks have affected the capital, Bamako, as well as at least three other locations  –Sevare, Kidal and Gao– with heavy gunfire and explosions reported around government buildings and major military installations, signaling a highly organized offensive.