JQJO — Your world, one story at a time · Page 883

Washington — Vice President JD Vance departed Friday for Islamabad to lead U.S. mediated talks aimed at ending a six-week war with Iran, saying the United States is open to negotiations if Tehran engages in good faith and warning negotiators would not be receptive to bad-faith tactics.

Islamabad talks this weekend include Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner; the White House said the delegation seeks to stabilize a fragile ceasefire, avert renewed hostilities and secure concessions, underscoring diplomatic urgency after President Trump's earlier hardline remarks.

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Augusta National presented a firm, fast test through the opening round of the 2026 Masters, and with cut day looming the 91-player field will be trimmed to the top 50 and ties by nightfall. Reigning champion Rory McIlroy became the sixth golfer to begin a green jacket defense with at least a share of the 18-hole lead, entering Friday at 5 under alongside Sam Burns. A strong chasing group includes Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Patrick Reed and Justin Rose.

CBS Sports and Paramount+ offered expanded live coverage Friday with Masters Live streaming Featured Groups, Amen Corner and holes 15 and 16 across Paramount+, CBSSports.com and the CBS Sports App. The networks planned extended broadcasts on Saturday and Sunday from 12-2 p.m. ET on Paramount+ followed by 2-7 p.m. ET on CBS. CBS Sports will provide ongoing leaderboard updates, live scores, Round 2 tee times, pairings and highlights.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. The Jacksonville Jaguars will make their first selection of the 2026 NFL Draft at No. 56 and enter the event with 11 total picks this month. The team traded its 2026 first-round pick to the Cleveland Browns as part of the Travis Hunter deal and returns most starters on offense and defense.

Coaching staff led by Liam Coen and GM James Gladstone have emphasized flexibility, and scouts project options at offensive line, edge defender and secondary positions. This week analysts flagged potential targets near No. 56, and the Jaguars could trade up using midround assets or select best-available prospects on draft day.

U.S. communities reported multiple residential fires on April 10 and a separate station groundbreaking this week; in Grasonville, MD a garage fire just before 1 a.m. displaced four people, in Hurricane, UT a trailer fire prompted evacuations at 4:29 a.m., and Louisville crews responded to a midday house fire.

Officials said occupants escaped safely in the overnight incidents, investigators estimated roughly $500,000 damage in Grasonville, and the Red Cross is assisting displaced residents; Little Chute officials broke ground Thursday on a new fire station planned to open in early 2027 with expanded decontamination space.

The Philadelphia 76ers lost 113-102 to the Houston Rockets on Thursday after star center Joel Embiid was ruled out on the afternoon of the game to undergo surgery for appendicitis. Embiid had been left off the injury report and was initially expected to play. Without him, Tyrese Maxey led the Sixers with 23 points on 9-for-20 shooting, VJ Edgecombe had 21 points in 40 minutes, Kelly Oubre scored 16 and Quentin Grimes added 20 off the bench. Paul George struggled in 24 minutes, finishing with seven points on 2-for-8 shooting, four rebounds and four turnovers. The loss left Philadelphia on a three-game skid and with a 43-37 record.

The surgery news and the uninspired performance in Houston prompted strong reactions from Sixers fans online, who expressed frustration and concern about the team's postseason prospects. On Reddit, one user wrote, 'Done with the season... Embiid's done, every player looks checked out, so they're basically done at this point.' Other commenters described the team as 'headed nowhere' and called for changes to the coaching staff and front office, while some still held out limited optimism for play-in success and for watching Maxey and Edgecombe 'let it all out' if the team reaches the postseason.

Washington — On April 10, U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran via Truth Social and in remarks to reporters that Tehran should not impose transit fees on commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, reiterating a conditional two-week suspension of planned military strikes tied to Iran reopening and securing maritime traffic.

This week shipping tracking data showed a temporary halt to vessel crossings early Thursday, and US Vice President JD Vance stated the ceasefire would end if Iran failed to comply; Trump emphasized at Joint Base Andrews that the US would not permit tolls on an international waterway, signaling continued monitoring and potential diplomatic or military consequences.

Los Angeles: Steven Spielberg told Empire magazine this week that Christopher Nolan was the better choice to direct the 2014 film Interstellar, saying he had been attached to the project for about a year and worked with Jonathan Nolan on early drafts while consulting scientists at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Reports published April 10–11 by outlets including People, ANI, and regional aggregators relay Spielberg's comments that Jonathan Nolan’s drafts did not stick and that Nolan ultimately 'grabbed' the project; Spielberg also noted he will return with Disclosure Day in June, and historical credits show Christopher Nolan directed the completed 2014 release.

Sarasota, Fla. — Local television weather teams reported that high pressure and drier air will move into parts of the United States, bringing sunnier skies and warming temperatures to western Florida, Nashville, western Colorado and the Washington, D.C. area this weekend. WWSB, WSMV, KKCO and WJLA issued forecasts on Friday projecting mid- to upper-80s in several regions.

Washington, D.C. and western Colorado forecasts noted low humidity and gusty winds that raise near-term fire concerns, including a Red Flag Warning in western Colorado through tonight; officials advise caution. Tennessee and Florida forecasts predict highs in the low to mid-80s Saturday and mid- to upper-80s Sunday, with conditions trending warmer into early next week and limited rain expected.

San Diego. On Thursday night Xander Bogaerts hit a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the 12th to lift the Padres to a 7-3 win and snap the Colorado Rockies' four-game winning streak; on Friday Gavin Sheets belted a ninth-inning three-run homer for a 5-2 Padres victory, and on Saturday Ramón Laureano and Manny Machado homered in a 9-5 game.

The sequence of late homers and extra-inning finishes produced immediate series momentum for the Padres this week, handing the Rockies consecutive losses and highlighting bullpen and late-inning offensive advantages; Germán Márquez, facing his former team after signing in February, allowed runs in Saturday’s loss as San Diego collected multiple multi-homer nights.

Anaheim, Calif. — On Thursday night John Carlson scored three goals for the Anaheim Ducks, recording his first NHL career hat trick in a 6-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks, ending the Ducks' six-game losing streak and marking his first three-goal game in nearly 17 seasons.

The win improved Anaheim's standing and playoff prospects this week; Carlson, 36, and teammates celebrated the momentum shift, while reports noted Alex Ovechkin's 34 career hat tricks for context; the Ducks will play upcoming regular-season games aiming to build on Thursday's result.