Morning Report

TODAY’S IRAN WAR story

US rescues 2 fighter jet aviators shot down in Iran

What happened
The U.S. military over the weekend rescued two airmen whose F-16E was shot down over Iran on Friday. U.S. forces quickly rescued the pilot deep in hostile territory, but the second crew member was not exfiltrated until early yesterday following a “sprawling, high-risk rescue mission” involving about 100 Special Operations commandoes, the CIA and dozens of military aircraft, The Wall Street Journal said, citing President Donald Trump and other U.S. officials.

Who said what
The F-16E crew member, a weapons system officer, was injured when he ejected from the jet, but was able to climb about 7,000 feet and wedge himself into a crevice to evade the Iranian forces searching for him, officials said. The “almost cinematic mission” also “faced major obstacles,” The Associated Press said. Iran shot down at least two MH-6 helicopters during the rescue, and the U.S. bombed two of its own MC-130Js (pictured above) to protect sensitive technology after the $100 million stealth transport planes got stuck on a makeshift runway in remote Iran.

What next?
The operation gave both Iran and the U.S. “a new narrative as the war enters its sixth week,” the Journal said. Tehran “portrayed the downing of the jet as proof that the U.S. could be bloodied” and did not have full “air superiority,” while Trump called the operation an “Easter miracle” in “triumphant interviews and posts” as he “seeks to mobilize flagging public support for the war.”

TODAY’S CULTURE Story

Pepsi quits London festival amid Ye criticism

What happened
Pepsi said yesterday it was withdrawing its sponsorship of a London music festival after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said it was “deeply concerning” that the festival’s headliner was Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, given his history of antisemitic and pro-Nazi comments. Pepsi, listed as the lead sponsor of July’s three-day Wireless Festival, did not give a reason for its withdrawal. Liquor giant Diageo, whose Johnnie Walker and Captain Morgan brands were also listed as sponsors, said it was pulling out of the festival “as it stands.”

Who said what
“Antisemitism in any form is abhorrent and must be confronted firmly wherever it appears,” Starmer told The Sun in an article published yesterday morning. “Everyone has a responsibility to ensure Britain is a place where Jewish people feel safe.” Ye “has been seeking to return to public view in ways that do not create controversy” since apologizing for his antisemitic statements in a full-page Wall Street Journal ad in January, The New York Times said. Starmer’s comment “suggested that the prime minister did not believe Ye’s latest apology was sincere.”

Ye was blocked from entering Australia last year “after releasing a song titled ’Heil Hitler,’ glorifying the Nazi leader,” and he has not yet applied to enter the U.K., the BBC said. Leaders from across Britain’s political spectrum similarly distanced themselves from the rapper, but “three songs from his latest album” are “in the UK’s top 100 singles chart.”

What next?
It is “not clear what Pepsi’s decision will mean for the festival,” which still lists other major sponsors, the Times said.

It’s not all bad

A shortage of affordable, suitable prosthetics across Africa spurred one Nigerian innovator to create a homegrown solution. After losing his fingers in an accident, Ubokobong Amanam was “deeply disappointed” to find there were no “hyper-realistic or even realistic African-style prosthetics,” he told The Guardian. He joined forces with his brother, special-effects artist John Amanam, to create lifelike limbs better suited for African users. Their work is helping amputees regain confidence with customized prosthetics that match skin tone and feel natural.

Under the radar

The deepfake scandal putting ‘virtual rape’ in the spotlight

One of Germany’s most famous actors has claimed that her TV anchor ex-husband spread deepfake pornographic images of her online, triggering public demonstrations demanding that the government tighten up the laws on digital violence against women. The case has gripped Germany, said the BBC, and “exposed anger about what campaigners say are glaring gaps” in criminal law.

In bombshell allegations published under the headline “You virtually raped me,” Collien Fernandes said in Der Spiegel that her former husband, Christian Ulmen, secretly opened online accounts in her name and used them to share sexually explicit deepfake pornographic images of her with 30 other men. She also alleged that he used computer-generated audio to impersonate her voice for phone sex encounters with some of the men. Ulmen denies the allegations and has not been charged.

Fernandes’ accusations have shocked Germany in a similar way that Gisèle Pelicot’s trial rocked France, said The New York Times. Crowds at rallies and demonstrations in several cities have called for tighter legal restrictions on the creation and distribution of deepfake pornography, saying politicians have not done enough to prevent such digital abuse.

The scandal has put “political pressure on Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who has long been accused of being out of touch when it comes to younger female voters,” said the BBC. Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig announced plans to incorporate into German law an EU directive on banning nonconsensual deepfake pornography, making both the production and distribution of it a specific criminal offense punishable by up to two years in prison.

On this day

April 6, 1896

The first modern Olympic Games opened in Athens. At least 14 countries participated, sending more than 200 athletes to the competition. At least one notable element of the modern Olympics was missing: the winners were given silver medals while runners-up received bronze. Gold medals weren’t awarded until the 1904 Olympics.

TODAY’S newspaperS

‘Day of hope’

“Pope Leo urges peace,” The Dallas Morning News says. “A plea for peace on a day of hope,” The Boston Globe says. “April showers don’t dampen Easter worship,” The Atlanta Journal-Constitution says. “Daring rescue and a profane Trump threat,” the Los Angeles Times says. “Trump’s profane post threatens Iran with ‘Hell,’” The Philadelphia Inquirer says. “Trump revels in making emphatic threats to commit war crimes,” The New York Times says. “Vance heads to Hungary as MAGA ally Orban trails in polls,” The Washington Post says. “Federal cuts uproot agriculture projects,” The Mercury News says. “Obstacles lie ahead for Bondi successor,” says USA Today. “Texas to go solo in push for psychedelic drug approval,” says the Houston Chronicle.

► See the newspaper front pages

Tall tale

Chi-Town clankers

In the span of a week, two delivery robots smashed into Chicago bus shelters, sending shattered glass flying into the streets. The accidents involved robots owned by Coco Robotics and Serve Robotics, and in separate statements, both companies said they took the incidents “seriously.” Barber Anthony Spaulding witnessed the second crash and wasn’t too surprised. “This is happening all the time,” he told CBS Chicago. “Every time you look up, the robot comes through, bumping into people.”

Morning Report was written and edited by Nadia Croes, Catherine Garcia, Scott Hocker, Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, Justin Klawans, Rafi Schwartz, Peter Weber and Kari Wilkin, with illustrations by Stephen Kelly and Julia Wytrazek.