The best 'Star Wars' Easter eggs hidden in 'The Mandalorian and Grogu'

Spoiler alert! We're discussing a few plot details from "The Mandalorian and Grogu" (in theaters now), so turn away if you haven't seen the movie yet and don't want to know.

As long asthe Mandalorian and Groguhave been traipsing around the galaxy, "Star Wars" fans have been pointing at the screen and proclaiming, "I understood that reference."

"The Mandalorian and Grogu" is packed with scenes that echo classic moments from "Star Wars" history. The snowy opening action sequence evokes the Hoth battle that started "The Empire Strikes Back," and when the Hutts make Mando fight a giant snake, it's like a mashup of the trash compactor from "A New Hope" and the Rancor pit from "Return of the Jedi."

But beyond the obvious callbacks, "The Mandalorian" has always been a gold mine of more obscure "Star Wars" references, Easter eggs and cameos for diehards to eat up, and the film is no exception. Here are the best ones you may have missed.

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Martin Scorsese's character is related to Jon Favreau's from 'Solo'

Martin Scorsesehas a fun role as an alien fry cook, who gives Mando information on his quest. The legendary filmmaker's character is an Ardennian, a monkey-like alien species created for the 2018 Han Solo spinoff movie "Solo: A Star Wars Story."

In "Solo," Han met an Ardennian pilot named Rio Durant, who was voiced by "Mandalorian and Grogu" director Jon Favreau.

But these two aren't just the same species. Scorsese's character is named Hugo Durant, so he is apparently a relative of Rio Durant from "Solo" (though Rio doesn't appear in "Grogu" after dying tragically in "Solo"). The first name of Scorsese's character is presumably a nod to the director's 2011 movie "Hugo."

Sigourney Weaver's deck of cards has a link to Han Solo

When Mando tellsSigourney Weaver's Colonel Wardhe'll take out "every bad guy in your deck of cards," he isn't being metaphorical: She has a literal deck of cards, each of which has the name of an Imperial warlord on the New Republic's radar.

These are modified versions of playing cards from a deck of sabacc, the card game Han Solo was playing when he won the Millennium Falcon from Lando Calrissian, as mentioned in "The Empire Strikes Back" and depicted in "Solo: A Star Wars Story."

The cards Ward shows Mando come from an adapted sabacc deck that the New Republic created. According to the 2024 book "The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire," each card in the deck features "the last known image of a wanted Imperial fugitive," and the goal was for these cards to circulate throughout the galaxy and help the wider population to identify the Imperials.

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A fight sequence brings a classic 'New Hope' prop to life

Rotta the Hutt (Jeremy Allen White) is forced to fight in what is dubbed a Dejarik match, where creatures are unleashed in an arena.

It's called that because Dejarik is the holographic game Chewbacca and R2-D2 played on the Millennium Falcon in "A New Hope" in the scene where C-3PO memorably recommends that R2 "let the Wookiee win." The game, which popped back up in "The Force Awakens" and "The Rise of Skywalker," uses holographic versions of alien creatures as the pieces.

So in "Grogu," the arena fight with all the creatures is essentially a Dejarik game come to life, to the point that the arena's floor is even designed to resemble a Dejarik board.

Rotta the Hutt's baby photo is a sneaky callback

"The Mandalorian and Grogu" isn't our introduction to Rotta. Jabba's son was also a significant character in the 2008 animated film "Star Wars: The Clone Wars," which involved Rotta being kidnapped by Count Dooku. But Rotta was still a baby in that movie, making him essentially Baby Jabba, years before we had a Baby Yoda.

So in "Grogu," when the Hutt twins show Mando a hologram of Rotta and note he has had a growth spurt since then, it's both a joke about how out of date that image is and a nod to how he looked the last time fans saw him. The hologram in "Grogu" is an impressively faithful recreation of Rotta's appearance from the "Clone Wars" movie.

Fan-favorite animated characters jump to live action

Speaking of "The Clone Wars," "Star Wars" fans who only watch the live-action material may not even realize Embo, the bounty hunter who captures Mando, is a returning character.

Embo was introduced on "The Clone Wars" animated series in a 2010 episode. The show established Embo's relationship with the Hutts, for whom he worked as a bodyguard, and he also had wolf-like pet on the show like he does in the movie.

Zeb, the purple alien from the New Republic who teams up with Mando, isn't new, either. He's from the Disney XD series "Star Wars Rebels," which featured Zeb fighting the Empire alongside fellow rebels Ezra Bridger, Hera Syndulla and Sabine Wren, all of whom were brought to live action in the "Ahsoka" show.

A prequel alien species makes a return

A number of familiar alien species pop up, but there's one in particular that prequel fans should get a kick out of. The scary-looking fellow who Mando encounters on his way to see Lord Janu (Jonny Coyne) is an Iktotchi named Hogsbreth, played by Matthew Willig. That's the same kind of alien as Saesee Tiin, a member of the Jedi Council in "The Phantom Menace."

Carl Weathers gets a touching homage

Fans picked up on this one when it appeared in the trailer, but during the sequence after the gladiator battle where the creatures get loose, a sign can be seen written in Aurebesh, the "Star Wars" galaxy's fictional alphabet. Translated to English, it reads "Weathers Apollo," a nod toCarl Weathers. The "Mandalorian" actor, who also played Apollo Creed in the "Rocky" movies, died in 2024 at age 76.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:'The Mandalorian and Grogu' Easter eggs 'Star Wars' fans will love

byDamon Long

in

May 23, 2026

The best 'Star Wars' Easter eggs hidden in 'The Mandalorian and Grogu'

Spoiler alert! We're discussing a few plot details from "The Mandalorian and Grogu" (in theaters now), so turn away if yo...

Read More

5 Biggest Bombshells from “The Crash”,“ ”Including How Davion Flanagan Almost Didn't Get Into the Deadly Car

'The Crash' tells varying accounts of what happened to Dominic Russo and Davion Flanagan when they were killed by Mackenzie Shirilla in a high-speed crash

NEED TO KNOW

• The Netflix documentary includes interviews with people sharing various accounts

• Some of the victims' family members believed in Shirilla's innocence up until her trial

The Crashtells the tragic story of howDominic RussoandDavion Flanaganwere brutallykilled in a high-speed car crashin July 2022.

The Netflix documentary, which hit the streamer on May 15, shows the different perspectives of what may have happened whenMackenzie Shirillawas driving the young adults home, and hercar sped to 100 mph and slammed into a brick wall.

As the documentary unfolds, it includes interviews withShirilla's friends and family members, who gave various accounts and new information as to what happened. Shirilla was ultimately arrested in connection with Russo and Flanagan's deaths, convicted andsentenced to two concurrent terms of 15 years to life in prison.

Here are all the biggest bombshells fromThe Crashdocumentary.

Flanagan wasn't originally supposed to drive home with Shirilla

On the night of July 30, 2022, Russo, Flanagan and Shirilla were attending a "sleepover" at a friend's home when they decided to leave around 5 a.m. the next day. However, only Shirilla and Russo were originally supposed to leave at that time, according to their friends in the Netflix doc.

Flanagan's friend, Bubba Turner, said that he and Flanagan had actually made plans for the morning on July 31, so he was planning on driving Flanagan home from the party. Unfortunately, at the last moment, Flanagan changed his mind.

"It was right before they left, me and Davion were talking, he was supposed to work on my truck with me the next morning, and I offered to take him home," Turner recalled. "It was set that he was coming home with me, and like last minute he goes, 'I want to shower and maybe sleep for a little bit.' "

Turner remembered Flanagan giving him a hug and telling him he loved him before he left.

"He goes, 'I love you.' I was like, 'Love you too, bro.' Very weird. It was the first time we said we loved each other for awhile," he said.

Flanagan ultimately sat in the back seat of Shirilla's car.

Russo's family initially sat with Shirilla’s family at the trial

In the months after the crash, authorities conducted a thorough investigation to determine what caused the fatal incident. Initially, several of the victims' families assumed that the car had malfunctioned or that Shirilla had been under the influence of substances.

Even after Shirilla was arrested in connection with Flanagan and Russo's deaths, Russo's family maintained a close relationship with her family in the belief that it was still an accident.

When her trial began in August 2023, the Russos were still in touch with Shirilla and even stood near her family in the courtroom.

"I felt bad for her," sister Christine Russo recalled. "I just kept thinking, 'She killed the love of her life and a friend. 'I felt terrible for her.' "

She added, "We still thought she had been drinking or there were drugs involved. They were kids, accidents happen all the time like that. You never in a million years think this girl killed your brother. You just don’t think that way."

Russo's dad, Frank Russo, even recalled telling Shirilla, "I said, 'Kenzie, it’s OK, you gotta try to get through it,' it is what we were all trying to do, and I was trying to be helpful to her, too."

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However, the Russos' opinion changed when they saw videos of Shirilla previously threatening Flanagan.

"I was disgusted, and I really think it just really made me mad," Christine said, while Frank said the entire situation was a "big slap in the face."

Shirilla's parents claimed she was the one in danger in the highway incident, not Russo

Throughout Shirilla's trial, her parents,Natalie and Steve Shirilla, maintained that theirdaughter passed out from a medical emergencyand didn't intentionally crash the car.

In addition to Shirilla's family believing that she wasn't at fault, they also believed that she was the one in danger — not Russo.

One particular moment from the documentary featured a story in which Russo reportedly called his mom after he was driving with Shirilla, and the teen allegedly told him, "I’m going to wreck this car right now."

However, in the documentary, Natalie and Steve claimed that they had evidence that their daughter actually texted Russo's mom and said that Russo was the one threatening to crash the car.

Natalie alleged in the doc that she had screenshots that showed her daughter telling Russo's mom that her son was the one "trying to end my life."

Scott Flanagan said he has the capacity to forgive if he knew the truth about what happened

Flanagan's father, Scott Flanagan, appeared inThe Crash,where he criticized Shirilla's behavior while also begging her to tell the truth about what happened. Shirilla has repeatedly maintained her innocence.

"I have the capacity for forgiveness," Scott said. "I just want to know the truth of what happened that night, and I would be eternally grateful for her to actually tell us how those last few moments were — no matter how damaging to her they might be — to say just to say the truth and let us know and let us grieve properly and have some closure."

He added that his "biggest hope" for Shirilla is that "she does change" and isn't "babied" by her parents while in prison.

Shirilla's friends claimed she was taking a break from smoking before the crash, though THC was in her blood following the incident

Shortly after Shirilla's car was found at the scene, officers found psilocybin mushrooms, marijuana and a digital scale in the car and suspected that drugs were involved in the crash.

Shirilla's blood work later came back positive for THC — the primary compound found in marijuana — but negative for alcohol or psilocybin.

Although Shirilla was akin to smoking marijuana in the past, her friends claimed that she was not smoking the night of the crash. The friends also reiterated that nobody participated in taking mushrooms that night.

"Kenzie didn’t even smoke that night," Turner claimed. "She was on a smoke break, 'cause she was coughing up black mucus or blood mucus something. It was really bad."

Meanwhile, her other friend there, Rosie Graham, reiterated Turner's statement and doubled down that it got "too late" to take mushrooms, so that's why they were found in the car.

Read the original article onPeople

byDamon Long

in

May 23, 2026

5 Biggest Bombshells from “The Crash”,“ ”Including How Davion Flanagan Almost Didn't Get Into the Deadly Car

'The Crash' tells varying accounts of what happened to Dominic Russo and Davion Flanagan when they were killed by Mackenzie Shi...

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Explainer-Despite Trump's pressure, Cuba may not turn out like Venezuela

By Patricia Zengerle

WASHINGTON, May 23 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has been stepping up pressure on Communist-controlled Cuba, after using the military in January to remove Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Here is why Cuba may not be Venezuela 2.0, even though Caracas had been a key supporter of the island's government.

WHO WOULD TAKE OVER?

In Venezuela, then-Vice President ‌Delcy Rodriguez took over as U.S. forces seized Maduro in a lightning raid on Jan. 3 and has served as acting president since.

Rodriguez was Maduro's deputy, but there is no similar ‌deputy to Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, or former President Raúl Castro, the 94-year-old former president the U.S. indicted this week in a bid to increase pressure on Havana.

"The security apparatus in Cuba has dismantled, systematically dismantled, every alternative or potentially alternative power ​source," said Orlando Pérez, an expert on U.S.-Latin America relations at the University of North Texas in Dallas.

Venezuela also has a popular opposition leader, Nobel laureate María Corina Machado, who won elections in 2024 but was not allowed to take power and hopes to return to her home country this year for free elections. Cuba has no similar figure.

Raúl Rodriguez Castro, grandson of the former president, met this month with CIA Director John Ratcliffe during a rare visit by a U.S. spy chief to Havana, fueling talk he might agree to work with Washington.

But the younger Castro has no formal position in the Cuban government and is not expected to betray ‌his family. He attended a rally in Havana on Friday to protest ⁠his grandfather's indictment.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS AND RISKS?

Cuba has been a U.S. antagonist for decades, since Fidel Castro's 1959 revolution. Trump is strongly supported by hardline Cuban-Americans in Florida, who have pushed for U.S.-instigated regime change for decades. The Republican U.S. president has made clear he wants to see change in their homeland.

In the ⁠past, Cuba was seen as a threatening Soviet satellite, an uncomfortably close 90 miles from Florida, and more recently as a potential site for Chinese influence in the Western Hemisphere. But Russia's attentions have shifted elsewhere since the fall of the Soviet bloc, and Cuba's economic problems have diminished its ability to confront the U.S.

Experts say instability in Cuba also threatens a migration crisis. Its people have been living largely without power due to the U.S. blockade ​and ​could opt to flee the island in case of war or chaos.

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Cuba's military is more ideologically entrenched and cohesive ​than Venezuela's and more likely to put up a fight. Dozens of Cuban agents were ‌killed in Venezuela in January when they were providing security for Maduro, but survivors would have learned from that raid how U.S. forces operate.

Cuba is also seen as more advanced in surveillance and intelligence, especially after years of cooperation with Russia and China.

WHAT WOULD CUBA BRING TO THE U.S.?

Venezuela has natural resources, and U.S. companies have been lining up to produce oil in the South American country, which has seen exports jump.

Cuba does not have any similar resource. Its state-run tourism industry was behind other Caribbean destinations in price and quality even before this year's steep downturn, which has been exacerbated by shortages tied to Trump's "maximum pressure" campaign, a U.S. blockade and threats of tariffs for countries that provide it with fuel.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, an outspoken Cuba hawk who is also national security adviser, is seen as the ‌force behind the Trump administration's Cuban policy.

Rubio, a Florida native and the son of Cuban immigrants, has run for ​president before and is expected to seek the office again. A major change in Cuba could burnish his political ambitions, but ​a failure poses major risks at a time when the U.S. faces huge budget deficits ​and is already waging a campaign in Iran that has been estimated to cost billions of dollars per day.

WHAT ARE THE LEGAL ISSUES?

Washington's ability to change relations with ‌Cuba is limited by the 1996 Helms-Burton Act, which ties the lifting of ​a decades-long U.S. embargo to specific political change such ​as the creation of a democratically elected government.

Trump changed U.S. business relations with Venezuela by removing Maduro, leaving its government in place without even announcing plans for free elections.

In Cuba, he could not legally do so without a dramatic shift by Cuban officials, who have refused so far to cooperate.

Cuba's situation is more complicated because the country's economy lacks a private sector. It ​is dominated by Gaesa, a military conglomerate subject to U.S. sanctions that ‌controls most of the island's top hotels, largest port, top commercial bank and a vast array of supermarkets, gas stations and remittance businesses.

Washington also justified the Venezuela raid by saying ​Maduro's government was involved in "narcoterrorism." Cuban officials have not faced such charges, and in fact its government says it has been cooperating with the U.S. against drug trafficking.

(Reporting by ​Patricia Zengerle; additional reporting by Sarah Kinosian and Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Sergio Non and Sanjeev Miglani)

byDamon Long

in

May 23, 2026

Explainer-Despite Trump's pressure, Cuba may not turn out like Venezuela

By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON, May 23 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has been stepping up pressur...

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Investigation into Ex-Prince Andrew Will Assess Claims of Sexual Misconduct, Police Say

The former Prince Andrew was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office and released after 11 hours in custody

NEED TO KNOW

• In an update on Friday, May 22, Thames Valley Police said they are also assessing "reports that a woman was taken to an address in Windsor in 2010 for sexual purposes"

• Andrew's arrest came after amid authorities' investigation into a claim he shared confidential information with Jeffrey Epstein in his previous role as U.K. trade envoy

The U.K. police investigation into the formerPrince Andrewwill look into claims of sexual misconduct.

On Feb. 19, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor wasarrested at his home on the Sandringham Estateon suspicion of misconduct in public office.

His arrest came amid authoritiesinvestigating a claim that he shared confidential information with late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epsteinin his previous role as a U.K. trade envoy. He wasreleased after about 11 hours in police custody. Two of Andrew’s homes were also searched. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein.

In a news release shared on Friday, May 22, Thames Valley Police (TVP) announced that they were continuing their investigation, sharing that “in addition to the investigation into misconduct in public office, the assessment of reports that a woman was taken to an address in Windsor in 2010 for sexual purposes is ongoing.”

PEOPLE contacted a representative for Andrew on Friday, May 22, but did not immediately receive a response.

This comes after a second woman came forward in late January to allege that she was sent to the U.K. by Epstein to have sex with Andrew,PEOPLE previously reported.

According to theCrown Prosecution Service (CPS)in the U.K., an individual can also be found guilty of misconduct in a public office if they use their position “to instigate (or attempt to instigate) sexual or otherwise inappropriate relationships.”

The release added that following Andrew’s arrest and the search of his two properties, “we have been working with the United States Department of Justice to get further information that may be related to this investigation. We have also been working with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in the United Kingdom and have sought early investigative advice from them as we would in serious, complex, or sensitive cases.”

“The investigation is examining a number of aspects of alleged misconduct following the release of files under the Epstein Files Transparency Act in the United States,” the release added. “We are also speaking with a number of witnesses, however as per national guidance we cannot confirm or deny the identities of these individuals.”

The woman's lawyer, Brad Edwards, told theBBCon Jan. 31, “We’re talking about at least one woman who was sent by Jeffrey Epstein, over to Prince Andrew. And she even had, after a night with Prince Andrew, a tour of Buckingham Palace.”

The lawyer alleged that Andrew entertained the unnamed woman at his home, Royal Lodge, in Windsor, in 2010. She was in her 20s at the time, per the outlet.

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Edwards also represented the lateVirginia Giuffre, who alleged that she was trafficked to London to have sex with Andrew when she was 17.

Giuffre died by suicide in April 2025. Andrew has repeatedly denied Giuffre’s allegations andreached a settlementwith her in 2022.

In their release on Friday, TVP said, “We have engaged with the woman’s legal representative to confirm that, should she wish to report this to police, it will be taken seriously and handled with care, sensitivity and respect for her privacy and her life-long right to anonymity under UK law.”

“We recognize how difficult it can be to speak about experiences of this nature, and any contact with police will be led by her wishes, when and if she feels ready and able to do so,” they added.

Police have also called for anyone with information related to their investigation to come forward.

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Thames Valley Police Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright said in a statement, “Our misconduct in public office investigation is continuing. Misconduct in public office is a crime that can take different forms, making this a complex investigation.”

“Our team of very experienced detectives are working meticulously through a significant amount of information that has come in from the public and other sources," Wright added. We are committed to conducting a thorough investigation into all reasonable lines of enquiry, wherever they may lead. We encourage anyone with information to get in touch with us through the normal non-urgent contact channels, such as the Thames Valley Police online portal.”

In October 2025, Andrew’s brotherKing Charlesstripped him of royal titlesas his links to Epstein came under renewed scrutiny.

Andrew's relationship with the American financier, who died while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges in August 2019,set a step back from royal life and public dutiesthat November.

Read the original article onPeople

byDamon Long

in

May 22, 2026

Investigation into Ex-Prince Andrew Will Assess Claims of Sexual Misconduct, Police Say

The former Prince Andrew was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office and released after 11 hours in custody ...

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Prince William Shares Emotional Update on Kate Middleton’s Recovery: ‘Our Family Couldn’t Cope Without Her’

Prince William invited Heart Breakfast hosts to the Isles of Scilly for the first live national radio broadcast to take place there

NEED TO KNOW

• During the interview, the Prince of Wales praised wife Kate Middleton and shared an emotional update on her recovery following her cancer journey

• The May 22 interview came as William opens a new wing at a hospital on the Isles of Scilly

Prince Williamgave a rare live interview on Friday, May 22, opening up about how proud he is of wifeKate Middleton'srecovery from cancer, and her recent trip to Italy for her early years project.

“She's an amazing mum, an amazing wife, and, literally, our family couldn’t cope with her, so, she's been absolutely stunning, brilliant," the Prince of Wales toldHeart Breakfasthosts Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden in the U.K. radio interview from the Isles of Scilly as he visited the remote island community to open a new hospital facility and highlight local projects backed by the Duchy of Cornwall.

And speaking about wife Kate's recovery and how she was able to make her first post-cancer overseas official visit — to Reggio Emilia — earlier this month, William, 43, said he was “so proud, very, very proud."

"She's been amazing. She's been through so much in the last couple of years, particularly. And yeah, she'd been looking forward to the Italian trip a lot. And so I'm really glad it went really well."

He added, “She wanted to go and do lots of research. She spends, God knows how much time now, looking through all the paperwork. She's a proper pro on early years. Most evenings I’m fighting to get past in the bedroom, what paperwork that she's got lined up, ready to read.  So, I'm so pleased it went well for her, and yeah, I think she came back buzzing.”

William went on to explain that the family will have to continue managing the workload of visits like that saying "away trips like that take a lot out of you ... so we have to balance that, make sure she's, she's okay and rested, but she's in good form.”

William also gave a glimpse into the chaos of getting the couple's three children,Prince George, 12,Princess Charlotte, 11, andPrince Louis, 8, ready for the morning drop off, saying they'd be listening during their preparations for school. Revealing that George boarded over night at his school, Lambrook, the previous evening, William said, “Charlotte, Louis, if you're listening, make sure you're on time, please. Make sure you're not fighting over who's listening to what this morning."

The Prince —who admitted “I'm definitely not a morning person” — further described the lively moments as they get the children out of the house, adding, “It depends, if there’s a guitar lesson, a music lesson, you've got to get guitar on the car. No, we're not taking the guitar, are we boarding are we not? Seeing friends? No, we're not. So there's all that going on in the morning.”

Then there are the snacks that they might have. Louis “will leave jam fingerprints throughout the car, which is really helpful.”

William, who was on the show to discuss the Duchy-backed hospital redevelopment and broader community projects taking shape across the islands of the coast of Cornwall, was speaking just after he had picked Raye's huge hit "WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!" to play on the show.

"Love bit of Raye. Where's my husband?" William said, also revealing it was one of Kate's favorites, too. "As my wife calls, keeps asking, 'Where IS my husband?' ”

That seemed the perfect cue for William to be asked about his journey to Istanbul, Turkey, where he watched his favorite soccer team Aston Villa win a European trophy for the first time in 44 years.

“I try and remind myself that I am a football fan and I'm just going there to enjoy myself, but then I see the following day and I realize, actually, a lot of people are watching you so stop doing that," he said of referring tothe images of him celebrating. "But I got really into the moment, and, you know, I've been following Aston Villa for most of my life, and so it was a huge moment for all Villa fans. and to celebrate Europa League final yes.”

The visit to the Scilly Isles highlighted William’s growing hands-on role overseeing the Duchy of Cornwall, the private estate he inherited fromKing Charlesupon becoming the Prince of Wales in 2022. During the broadcast, the future King discussed efforts to support housing, healthcare and sustainability projects across the Isles of Scilly, a remote archipelago off the southwestern coast of England that forms part of the Duchy estate.

He told hosts Amanda Holden and Jamie Theakston that he was going to “go and visit the hospital later, which is fantastic. The islands had issues with trying to make sure they've got sustainable long term care here. A lot of time, people had to go to the island, the mainland, and the cost for them, it's a nightmare."

Saying he was "really looking forward to seeing how the hospital's expanded, and having maternity services here now, and more social care," he was also there to "support all the wonderful NHS staff who are down here doing a hell of a job, as you can imagine, with all the conditions they have to manage down here."

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William added, “And then I'm going to go and see some housing that we've opened for some essential workers, so it hasn't been built here for nearly 30 years now at the scale we're doing to support the teachers, the firefighters, the nurses, anyone in essential role. So exciting.”

Heart Breakfast with Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holdenis the U.K.’s biggest commercial morning show, while Heart is the country’s largest commercial radio brand, reaching 12.5 million listeners each week.

The interview was scheduled after William personally invited Theakston and Holden to the island, according toHeart.

“Hi Jamie and Amanda, I’m heading down to the Isles of Scilly, off the coast of Cornwall, on Friday, to see some of the terrific work going on there to support the local community,” William said.

He continued, “I’m also opening the new wing of the hospital in St Mary’s, which will be a fantastic moment. Amanda, I know how fond you are of Cornwall, and the Isles of Scilly, so, it would be really lovely, if you could both come along."

He ended his message with well wishes, saying, "Have a great morning, guys, and I very much look forward to seeing you on Friday. Bye!”

Richard Steel, managing editor ofHeart, said in response to William, “We’re incredibly proud to be delivering the first ever national radio broadcast live from the Isles of Scilly.”

“It’s also a real moment for Heart to welcome The Prince of Wales on air for the first time, and we’re thrilled to bring this special broadcast to our listeners as Prince William marks the opening of the new facility at the Isles of Scilly Hospital,” Steel added.

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The interview also comes after reports that William is planning tosell around 20% of the estateover the next decade to help fund new projects in housing, plus environmental and renewable energy.

The sale could raise an estimated $670 million, according to U.K. outletThe Times.

William took control of the Duchy — the estate created in 1337 to provide income for the heir to the throne — after King Charles became monarch in 2022.

On Thursday, May 21, William shared a photo toInstagramof himself touring a new Duchy of Cornwall housing development, which will feature housing designed to address homelessness.

The project — a collaboration between the Cornish charity St. Petrocs, the Royal Foundation’s Homewards program which he spearheaded and the Duke of Cornwall’s Charitable Foundation — will create 24 low carbon, high quality homes for local people.

"Three years ago, we set out to take a different approach, to think more carefully about how the Duchy could use its land to create opportunity and support people over the long term, including launching a project here in Cornwall to help tackle homelessness with the right support around it," he wrote on Instagram.

William continued, "It’s fantastic to come back at Nansledan and to see that beginning to take shape, and to meet some of the people now calling it home. There’s still more to do, but it’s encouraging to see what’s already possible when you bring together the right people, ideas and ambition."

Read the original article onPeople

byDamon Long

in

May 22, 2026

Prince William Shares Emotional Update on Kate Middleton’s Recovery: ‘Our Family Couldn’t Cope Without Her’

Prince William invited Heart Breakfast hosts to the Isles of Scilly for the first live national radio broadcast to take place there ...

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UAE's Gargash sees '50-50' odds of US-Iran deal, warns against renewed fighting

By Maha El Dahan and Jana Choukeir

DUBAI, May 22 (Reuters) - There is a "50-50 chance" of a U.S.-Iran peace agreement, the United Arab Emirates' presidential advisor ‌said on Friday, but stressed that any political settlement must address the root ‌causes of instability in the region to avoid future conflict.

Pakistan has been mediating a U.S.-Iran ceasefire to end ​the war that has shaken the global economy and disrupted trade through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for around a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.

"It is a 50-50 chance that we will reach an agreement. My worry is that the ‌Iranians have always over-negotiated," Anwar ⁠Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, said at the Globsec conference in Prague.

"This is not something new. They have missed many opportunities ⁠over the years because of a tendency to overestimate their cards. I hope they don’t do that this time," Gargash said.

He also said that the region needs a political solution and a ​second ​round of military confrontation would further complicate matters.

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However, ​Gargash stressed that negotiations aimed solely ‌at reaching a ceasefire risked laying the groundwork for future conflict if they failed to resolve underlying issues.

That "is not what we are seeking," he added.

Iran has repeatedly targeted the UAE during the conflict, including strikes on civilian infrastructure and areas near U.S. military facilities hosted by the Gulf state. Emirati officials said Iranian drone and missile attacks hit desalination ‌plants, energy facilities and areas around Dubai and Abu ​Dhabi.

Gargash warned that any control over the Strait ​of Hormuz would set a dangerous precedent ​by politicising the strategic waterway and placing it under Iranian leverage.

Changes ‌to the status quo in the strait ​would have serious global ​repercussions, including for Europe, he said, urging European countries to view the issue as directly linked to their energy security and trade interests.

He said the Strait of ​Hormuz must return to ‌its pre-war status as an international waterway guaranteeing the free flow of energy, ​trade and maritime traffic, as it had for decades.

(Reporting by Maha El Dahan ​and Jana Choukeir; Editing by Sharon Singleton)

byDamon Long

in

May 22, 2026

UAE's Gargash sees '50-50' odds of US-Iran deal, warns against renewed fighting

By Maha El Dahan and Jana Choukeir DUBAI, May 22 (Reuters) - There is a "50-50 chance" of a U.S.-Iran peace agreement, ...

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U.S. doctor with Ebola feared he "wasn't going to make it" before evacuation

Missionary leader shares update on American doctor who contracted Ebola in Congo 03:24

An American doctor who wasinfected with Ebolawhile working with a medical missionary organization in Africasaid in a statementthat he is feeling "cautiously optimistic" as he fights the deadly virus.

Dr. Peter Stafford was working with the missionary group Serge in the Democratic Republic of Congo when he was infected with the virus, the group said. He was evacuated to a hospital in Berlin, Germany, to receive care, the group said Tuesday.

"Before I was evacuated I was feeling really concerned I wasn't going to make it. And now I'm cautiously optimistic," Stafford said in a statement shared by Serge.

Stafford's wife, Dr. Rebekah Stafford, who also works with Serge, and their four children were also evacuated to Germany, Serge said. They are asymptomatic and are being isolated and monitored, the group said Thursday.

TheBundibugyo ebolavirusoutbreak in Congo, which has spread to neighboring Uganda, is likely larger than what has officially been reported, health officials have warned. There are so far nearly 600 suspected cases, including 139 suspected deaths, the World Health Organization said.

Stafford was exposed to the virus while doing a surgery at Nyankunde Hospital in Bunia, a city in eastern Congo, Serge said in an earlier statement. He has worked at the hospital since 2023, according to the group. Ebolaviruses are transmitted from person to person through bodily fluids such as vomit, blood or semen, andmedical personnelcan be at high risk if exposed to sick patients.

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This is only the third known outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain. There is no known vaccine or treatment for it, health officials have said. The first symptoms are typically fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache and a sore throat. Symptoms then can progress to vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, rash, organ dysfunction and less frequently, internal or external bleeding. The fatality rate of the Bundibugyo strain is about 30 to 50%, according tothe WHO.

Dr. Scott Myhre, the Serge director for East and Central Africa, described Stafford as "critically ill but not acutely deteriorating." Myhre said Stafford reported feeling better Thursday than the day before, and said that the infected doctor had been able to eat small amounts of food as he experiences Ebola symptoms including vomiting, rash and diarrhea.

While there is no treatment for this type of ebolavirus, patients can receive supportive care including rehydration and specific symptom treatment. Stafford's medical labs are "trending slightly in the right direction," and he has received intravenous treatments "designed to improve Ebola outcomes," Myhre said.

Hospital staff briefly allowed Stafford to see his wife and children through a hospital window, Serge said.

Matt Allison, Serge's executive director,told CBS News on Tuesdaythat Stafford is "doing well, all things considered."

"He's sick. He's sad to be away from his family, but he's getting the best care available to him," Allison said.

A third Serge doctor, Dr. Patrick LaRochelle, was also potentially exposed while working in a DRC hospital. He is in quarantine at Bulovka Hospital in Prague, according to Serge. He remains asymptomatic so far, the organization said.

TheState Department announced Thursdaythat any U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents returning from the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan who had been in those countries within three weeks of entering the U.S. had to fly into Washington-Dulles International Airport in Virginia. The same restrictionsapply to any non-citizens, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

byDamon Long

in

May 22, 2026

U.S. doctor with Ebola feared he "wasn't going to make it" before evacuation

Missionary leader shares update on American doctor who contracted Ebola in Congo 03:24 An American doctor who wasinfected with Ebo...

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