Ye performs first US show in years: What critics and fans are saying

WhenYereturned to Los Angeles for his first full live show in the United States since 2021, it was as if time hadn't passed.

The hip-hop mogul, formerly known asKanye West,hit the stage at SoFi Stadium on Wednesday, April 1, for his first of two shows following recent performances in Mexico City and China, and his first apology in years for the antisemitic messages he spewed. The rapper previously sharedrhetoric widely deemed as antisemiticon social media, used a 2025 Super Bowl ad to redirect viewers to a website selling a $20 swastika T-shirt, and dropped asong praising Adolf Hitler.

In a lengthy advertisement fromThe Wall Street Journal's Jan. 26 issueaddressed to "those I've hurt," Ye stated he was not an "antisemite" and detailed a rocky mental health history, which included his bipolar disorder diagnosis, that he said fueled his behavior.

"My words as a leader in my community have global impact and influence. In my mania, I lost complete sight of that," he wrote.

Here's what the artist said at his first show back, and how critics and fans at the show responded.

Born Kanye Omari West, Ye transformed himself from a college dropout in Chicago to an undisputable icon of music and fashion. But a string of controversies has the rapper facing a fallout. In October 2022, several companies, including Adidas and Balenciaga fashion house, cut ties with the star after he made antisemitic remarks.

Look back on Ye's life and career, from his marriage and divorce from Kim Kardashian to his polarizing political statements. Here, Ye and Bianca Censori attend the 67th Grammy Awards on Feb. 2, 2025, in Los Angeles.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Ye gestures upon arriving at Shanghai Pudong International Airport on July 11, 2025.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Ye hit the 2025 Grammys red carpet donning a black shirt and pants, sunglasses and a chain. Meanwhile, wife Bianca Censori wore a black fur coat that she removed to pose in a nearly nude, see-through dress as photographers captured the couple's appearance.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Ye and Bianca Censori attend the Marni fall/winter 2024 fashion show on Feb. 23, 2024, in Milan, Italy.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Ye and Bianca Censori are seen in the stands during the UEFA Champions League last 16 first leg football match Inter Milan vs Atletico Madrid at the San Siro stadium in Milan on Feb. 20, 2024.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Charlie Wilson, left, and Ye attend Wilson's Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony on Jan. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Ye attended the premiere for "The Greatest Lie Ever Sold: George Floyd and the Rise of BLM," a documentary by conservative political commentator Candace Owens, on Oct. 12, 2022.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> during an appearance on the “Drink Champs” podcast a few days after the event found the rapper making controversial statements on the manner of Floyd's death." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Ye and his children Saint West, Chicago West and Psalm West, who he shares with ex Kim Kardashian, attended the Balenciaga womenswear spring/summer 2023 show at Paris Fashion Week on Oct. 2, 2022.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> gave an impassioned speech about Diddy, who he called his "brother."" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> were rumored to be romantically linked at the time." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> then-girlfriend Julia Fox, an actress and model, attended the Kenzo Fall/Winter 2022/2023 show during Paris Fashion Week on Jan. 23, 2022." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> temporarily moved into the venue following the event while he finished work on his 10th studio album "Donda," named after his late mother Donda West." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Easter Sunday service during the 2019 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival on April 21, 2019." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> "feel like Superman." Trump called him "a smart cookie."" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

See Kanye West, Ye, the polarizing rapper, fashion mogul

Born Kanye Omari West, Ye transformed himself from a college dropout in Chicago to an undisputable icon of music and fashion. But a string of controversies has the rapper facing a fallout. In October 2022, several companies, including Adidas and Balenciaga fashion house,cut ties with the starafter he made antisemitic remarks.Look back on Ye's life and career, from his marriage and divorce from Kim Kardashian to his polarizing political statements. Here, Ye and Bianca Censori attend the 67th Grammy Awards on Feb. 2, 2025, in Los Angeles.

What did Ye say at his concert?

At Wednesday's show, Ye did not address any controversies; instead, he focused on performing 32 tracks, including many from his new studio album "Bully," which dropped on March 28. The show also featured guest performances from rapperDon Toliver, who played the "Donda" track "Moon," and Ye's 12-year-old daughterNorth West, whom he shares withKim Kardashian.

Ye's only commentary at the show, according toThe New York Times, was berating stage technicians over the pace of the lighting.

"Is this an 'SNL' skit or something?" Ye said on stage as the crowd laughed, the Times reported. "Stop doing the vibrating, Vegas lights, bro. We went over this in rehearsal."

What did critics say about Ye's concert?

TheLos Angeles Times' music critic Mikael Wood said the show had a tense, unsettling environment as Ye reportedly scolded people on stage, including collaborators and dancers, in what Wood described as a "bully's arena."

"The show felt less like a concert and more like watching a superstar bully everyone in his orbit," Wood's review reads.

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TheHollywood Reporter's Ethan Millman called Ye's live vocals "muddy at times as well," emphasizing the difficulty in distinguishing his actual voice from his recorded vocals and backing tracks.

Variety's Steven J. Horowitzalso highlighted the backing vocals being louder than his and stated that the stage fog blocked the crowd's ability to see him.

"But that was of little concern to those who seemed to forget about the very heavy baggage accompanying the performance. It was an evening to remember the greatness of Ye as he once was, and perhaps still is: imaginative, boundlessly creative and transformative," his review reads.

What did concertgoers say?

Based on several reviews of the show, the audience seemed thrilled to see Ye return to the United States, with some saying that his new "Bully" album brought them back to the "old Kanye" era, according to Millman with The Hollywood Reporter.

Ahead of the show, fans seemed willing to separate Ye's past actions from his music and ability to put on a good show.

"We know his medical history and why he has his rants, he talks about being bipolar," 32-year-old Chris Gutierrez told the Hollywood Reporter. "We're coming here more to appreciate the music."

Gutierrez said he understands why many former fans stopped listening to him after his recent controversies.

"It's hard, I get it. I come from a psych background," Gutierrez told the Hollywood Reporter. "I don't know if he was lucid enough or he wasn't. But we're here more for the music."

Julian Caratachea, 20, also emphasized separating the process of separating art from the artist to the New York Times.

"His music never did nothing to us," Caratachea told the Times, expressing excitement for Ye to do more live events. "As long as you're here for the music and you're not here just on your opinion of something, then that's all that matters. That's what's going to bring us together — the music."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Ye returns to US stage after his apology. What did critics, fans think

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April 03, 2026

Ye performs first US show in years: What critics and fans are saying

WhenYereturned to Los Angeles for his first full live show in the United States since 2021, it was as if time hadn't ...

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18 Years Ago, Pop Superstar Surpassed Elvis Presley's Record of 17 No. 1 Hits

It's been officially 18 years sinceMariah Careydethroned the King.

On April 3, 2008, the Queen of Christmas knocked the King of Rock and Roll,Elvis Presleyout of second place for the most No. 1 hits on theBillboardHot 100 chart of any artist.

Carey's hit song "Touch My Body" became her 18th song to hit No. 1, surpassing Elvis' previous record of 17. (Elvis was in the second place position overall, behindThe Beatleswith 20, but he held the record of the most No. 1's for a solo artist—until Carey, that is.)

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"Touch My Body" was released in February 2008 as the lead single of Carey's 11th studio album,E=MC². It became her 18th No. 1 hit, spending two consecutive weeks at the top.

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But Carey has since added one more chart-topper to her resume. In 2019 her iconic holiday hit "All I Want For Christmas Is You" reached the summit of the Hot 100 nearly 20 years after its initial release, becoming her 19th career No. 1.

All of Mariah Carey's No. 1 Hit Songs:

1. "All I Want For Christmas Is You" - 22 weeks

2. "We Belong Together" - 14 weeks

3. "Always Be My Baby" - 2 weeks

4. "Hero" - 4 weeks

5. "Dreamlover" - 8 weeks

6. "One Sweet Day" (with Boyz II Men) - 16 weeks

7. "Love Takes Time" - 3 weeks

8. "Fantasy" - 8 weeks

9. "Vision of Love" - 4 weeks

10. "Don't Forget About Us" - 2 weeks

11. "Touch My Body" - 2 weeks

12. "Heartbreaker" ft. Jay Z - 2 weeks

13. "Thank God I Found You" ft. Joe and 98 Degrees - 1 week

14. "Emotions" - 3 weeks

15. "I'll Be There" - 2 weeks

16. "Honey" - 3 weeks

17. "My All" - 1 week

18. "Someday" - 2 weeks

19. "I Don't Wanna Cry" - 2 weeks

All of Elvis Presley's No. 1 Hit Songs

Many of Elvis' No. 1 hit songs predated the Hot 100 chart, butBillboardhas factored in the numbers he accumulated on now-retired rankings, like the Top 100, disc jockey and juke box charts.

Here are the 17 songsBillboardconsidersto be Elvis' 17 No. 1 hits:

1. "Don't Be Cruel/Hound Dog" - 11 weeks

2. "All Shook Up" - 9 weeks

3. "Heartbreak Hotel" - 8 weeks

4. "Jailhouse Rock" - 7 weeks

5. "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear" - 7 weeks

6. "Are You Lonesome To-night?" - 6 weeks

7. "It's Now Or Never" - 5 weeks

8. "Don't" - 5 weeks

9. "Love Me Tender" - 5 weeks

10. "Stuck on You" - 4 weeks

11. "Too Much" - 3 weeks

12. "A Big Hunk O'Love" - 2 weeks

13. "Good Luck Charm" - 2 weeks

14. "Surrender" - 2 weeks

15. "Hard Headed Woman" - 2 weeks

16. "Suspicious Minds" - 1 week

17. "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You" - 1 week

Related: On This Day in 1957, Elvis Presley Released One of His Biggest No. 1 Hits

This story was originally published byParadeon Apr 3, 2026, where it first appeared in theNewssection. Add Parade as aPreferred Source by clicking here.

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China aims to show global leadership with Iran war diplomacy. US appears uninterested

WASHINGTON (AP) — China is stepping up its diplomacy onthe Iran war, putting forward a five-point proposal with Pakistan, rallying support from Gulf countries and opposing a United Nations proposal to use any force necessary to open theStrait of Hormuz.

China Congress

It is China's latest push for a more prominent role in global affairs, though it may prove to be more rhetorical than substantive, with the U.S. appearing uninterested in Beijing's efforts.

"The war with Iran is the priority of all countries in and outside the region," said Sun Yun, director of the China program at the Stimson Center, a Washington-based think tank. "It is an opportunity China will not miss to demonstrate its leadership and diplomatic initiative."

Danny Russel, a former senior U.S. diplomat, described China's diplomacy as "performative" and compared the five-point proposal for ending the Iran war with its 12-point plan for Ukraine in 2023, which was "filled with platitudes but never acted on."

"Its narrative is that while Washington is reckless, aggressive and heedless of the cost to others, China is a principled and responsible champion of peace," said Russel, a distinguished fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute. "What we are seeing from China is messaging, not mediation."

China has been working "tirelessly for peace" since the outbreak of the war, said Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington.

How the US views China's diplomacy

The Trump administration appears to have little enthusiasm for the prospect of China's mediation, according to U.S. officials.

The U.S. has soured on third-party mediation efforts, and it has little interest in boosting China's international stature or giving it an opening to claim success in the Middle East, said three U.S. officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss potential diplomatic options.

One of the officials described the administration's position on the Chinese-Pakistani effort as "agnostic," neither endorsement nor rejection, but all three stressed that could change if President Donald Trump weighs in before hisplanned summitwith Chinese President Xi Jinping.

For Beijing, there could be an incentive to see the war subside before Trump travels to China in mid-May. Citing demands of the war, Trump postponed the trip initially set for the end of March.

"There is no guarantee that Trump may not delay the trip to China again if the war rages on," Sun said.

The war saw amajor escalation Fridaywhen Iran shot down two U.S. military aircraft, a first since the war began five weeks ago. Trump told NBC News that it would not impact negotiations with Iran, just days after declaring in anational addressthat the U.S. has "beaten and completely decimated Iran."

Beijing is calculating the pain from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz

For now, China is more insulated from the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz than other countries after diversifying its energy sources and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

China relies on Iran for only about 13% of its oil imports, and Beijing is working with Tehran to allow the passage of Chinese-flagged vessels through the critical waterway, where Iran's stranglehold has sent energy prices soaring. China also maintains a large strategic petroleum reserve.

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While China has positioned itself to cushion short-term shocks, analysts say Beijing is worried about a protracted war and has an interest in trying to bring it to an end.

"An escalation of the conflict will start to harm Chinese interests," Russel said. "Because China's growth model is so export-heavy, prolonged energy shocks and shipping disruption will mean costlier inputs and weaker global demand that damage its vulnerable economy."

Besides not wanting to see a long war, China "welcomes the opportunity to suggest that it is helping mitigate a crisis of America's making, especially as the Trump administration's lack of a considered strategy for containing the fallout becomes more apparent," said Ali Wyne, a senior research and advocacy adviser on U.S.-China relations at the International Crisis Group.

China has undertaken a flurry of diplomacy

After the war began, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke with counterparts from Russia, Oman, Iran, France, Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. He told Iran that China cherished its friendship, urged Israel to cease military actions and expressed that China would be willing to play a role in seeking peace.

This past week, Wang hosted his Pakistani counterpart in Beijing to hash out their five-point proposal, calling for an end to hostilities and the reopening of the strait.

He has held more than 20 phone calls with regional foreign ministers, and a special envoy has visited several countries in the region, aiming to promote peace and deescalate tensions, Liu said.

Wang sought support for China's plan from the European Union's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, telling her it represented "broad, international consensus," the Chinese foreign ministry said. Wang told Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan that halting the fighting was the most urgent matter.

Wang also spoke this week with Bahrain's foreign minister, Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, to explain why China opposed Bahrain's U.N. proposal to allow military force to open the Strait of Hormuz. Wang said actions by the U.N. Security Council should help ease tensions "rather than endorse illegal acts of war, still less add fuel to the fire."

China and Russia argued that the U.S. or other countries could exploit a U.N.-backed mechanism to escalate the deadly war, according to a U.N. diplomat, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss diplomatic conversations.

Both countries appear to have less immediate need to see the strait fully open. While China has been able to pay to get some of its ships through, Russia is benefiting from the high price of oil, its main export.

Hoping to avoid a veto, Bahrainsignificantly watered downits proposal to authorize defensive — but not offensive — action to ensure vessels can safely transit the strait. A vote was pushed back until next week.

To solve the problem of the strait, China says a ceasefire is needed. But its plan with Pakistan has been met with mostly silence from the U.S.

One of the U.S. officials said the plan is difficult to assess because it is less of a roadmap to peace than a vague appeal for respect for international law and the importance of diplomacy and the U.N.'s role.

Amiri reported from the United Nations.

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April 03, 2026

China aims to show global leadership with Iran war diplomacy. US appears uninterested

WASHINGTON (AP) — China is stepping up its diplomacy onthe Iran war, putting forward a five-point proposal with Pakistan,...

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Severe Thunderstorms, Including Some Tornadoes, Are Likely In The Plains, Midwest Through Saturday

Severe thunderstorms are forecast in parts of the Plains and Midwest through Saturday, continuing an active stretch since early March into the typically dangerous month of April.

(MORE:March Had Everything But The Kitchen Sink)

Happening Now

NOAA's Storm Prediction Center has issued the following severe weather watches:

- A tornado watch has been issued for parts of western Illinois, southern Iowa and northern Missouri until 10 p.m. CDT.

- A tornado watch has been issued for parts of central Illinois and central Indiana until 10 p.m. CDT.

- A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for parts of eastern Kansas, western Missouri, central and northeastern Oklahoma and north Texas until 10 p.m. CDT. This watch area includes Kansas City and Oklahoma City.

The Forecast

There exists two different focuses for a tornado threat this evening.

- One extends eastward from eastern Iowa into central Illinois (and possibly into Indiana) where supercells along the warm front. A few of these strong thunderstorms could make it into Chicagoland by midnight with fading severe threats. Some flooding is also possible across Illinois and Indiana given repeated rounds of storms there since early March.

- A second area, a squall line along the cold front, will be move quickly eastward and will be draped from eastern Iowa to northwest Arkasnas by midnight with the threats of damaging winds, hail and some tornadoes.

A threat of at least a few severe thunderstorms could extend into theEaster holiday weekendahead of the cold front from the Midwest, Northeast and lower Mississippi Valley Saturday to parts of the East Coast on Easter Sunday.

Overall, though, the severe threat should be much lower this weekend than we've seen the past couple of days.

(MAPS:7-Day US Rain/Snow Forecast)

Flash Flood Threat, Too

While swaths of the Plains and Midwest are currently indrought, these repeated rounds of thunderstorms could also trigger areas of flash flooding, particularly in areas that have been soaked repeatedly over the past 1-2 weeks.

That includes parts of the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley and Plains.

Be Prepared

There are steps you can take to stay safe in severe weather:

1. Know where to seek safe shelter when severe weather strikesbeforethe storm. If you live in a manufactured home, the safest place is probably either a designated community shelter or the closest building, such as a church, industrial building or any building with reinforced concrete.

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2. Have multiple ways of receiving official National Weather Service watches and warnings, including from yourphoneandNOAA weather radio. Make sure your devices are fully charged in case you lose power and alerts are turned on to wake you up at night.

3. Seek safe shelterimmediatelywhen you receive a severe thunderstorm or tornado warning for your area.

4.Never drive into floodwaters. You could be carried away and the road underneath could have been washed away.

(MORE:14 Severe Weather Tips That Can Save Your Life)

Severe Recap

Tuesday, severe thunderstorms with wind gusts up to 75 mph rumbled across the southern Great Lakes from northern Indiana to western Pennsylvania and New York. Trees were downed in several areas, some on homes.

Three weak tornadoes were confirmed, including EF1s in Cattaraugus County, New York and near Hicksville, Ohio. A brief EF0 was also confirmed near Apple Creek, Ohio.

In total, there were over 90 wind reports and over 40 large hail reports Tuesday and Tuesday night.

Flash flooding was reported in parts of the Cleveland metro area, and basements were flooded in Austintown and Lowellville, Ohio.

Wednesday's severe thunderstorms were scattered from Delaware to eastern New Mexico. Hail up to the size of tennis balls was seen in Blaine County, Oklahoma. Roof damage was reported in Snyder, Texas, and wind gusts from 70 to 75 mph were clocked in a few areas between Lubbock and Wichita Falls. Flash flooding was reported overnight in parts of western Missouri south of Kansas City. There were around 60 damaging wind reports and over 20 large hail reports.

Severe thunderstorms erupted across parts of the Midwest on Thursday.

One long-livedsupercell thunderstormapparently spawned several tornadoes across parts of eastern Iowa, south and east of Iowa City, to near the Mississippi River north of Davenport.

Significant damage, also from an apparent tornado, was reported near Dixon, Illinois. Trees were downed on homes in Parke County, Indiana, and hail larger than baseballs was reported near Martinsburg, Iowa, and Thomson, Illinois.

Storm Fatigue

It has been yet another active March for severe weather in the U.S., including parts of the Midwest.

On March 6, four tornadoes struck southern Michigan, including an EF3 in Branch County, killing three, an EF2 in Three Rivers and an EF1 tornado that claimed a life in Cass County.

Four days later, a lone supercell spawned 12 tornadoes across northeast Illinois into northwest Indiana, including the EF3 Kankakee, Illinois, tornado, which killed three.

Then on March 15, another 17 tornadoes were confirmed across central and southern Illinois.

NOAA's Storm Prediction Center has received 196 reports of and confirmed tornadoes in March, almost double the 20-year average of March twisters (104).

Jonathan Erdman is a senior meteorologist at weather.com and has been covering national and international weather since 1996. Extreme and bizarre weather are his favorite topics. Reach out to him onBluesky,X (formerly Twitter)andFacebook.

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Severe Thunderstorms, Including Some Tornadoes, Are Likely In The Plains, Midwest Through Saturday

Severe thunderstorms are forecast in parts of the Plains and Midwest through Saturday, continuing an active stretch si...

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As freed prisoners celebrate in Cuba, human rights groups demand clarity and release of protesters

HAVANA (AP) — Katia Arias buzzed with hope on Friday morning as she gathered at the gates of a prison on the outskirts of Havana, waiting with other families for their loved ones to be freed in one of thebiggest prison releasesby the Cuban government in years.

APTOPIX Cuba Prisoner Release

When her 20-year-old son Emilio Alejandro Leyva walked out of the doors of the detention facility with dozens of other prisoners, bags and a small release document in hand, she wrapped her arms around her son, who was detained for a robbery, for the first time in years.

"It has been so difficult, but today God has given me so much joy," said Arias, 43, breaking down in tears. "Today, I feel so happy. This is how all mothers who will have their children released today should feel."

The outpouring of joy from families comes the day after Cuba's government said it was going to release 2,010 prisoners in what it said was "humanitarian gestures" ahead ofHoly Week; it wasn't immediately clear how many were released on Friday.

The release comes as the Cuban government navigates extreme pressure and a crippling oil blockade by the Trump administration, which has openly expressed thedesire for regime changeand the release of those arrested for protesting.

It was unclear whether any of the prisoners released Friday are among the 1,214 people activist groups say are imprisoned for political reasons in Cuba. The government denies holding political prisoners.

Uncertainty over released prisoners

On Friday, detainees in the La Lima prison on the rural outskirts of Havana said they were woken up at 6 a.m. and heard their names called out. Hours later they were walking into the arms of loved ones awaiting them in front of blue prison gates.

The majority of prisoners interviewed Friday by The Associated Press were not serving time for political charges, though it's uncertain how many of those released were protesters — often charged with public disorder, contempt or terrorism. Many of the more than one thousand people the activist organization Prisoners Defended has registered as detained for political reasons were protesters from the2021 mass demonstrations on the island, which were met with widespread arrests by the government.

Sporadic protests have broken out in recent months as the island sinks into a deeper crisis. In one March incident, protestersburned the headquarters of the communist partyin central Cuba, leading to five arrests.

The lack of information over releases on Friday fueled frustration among human rights and opposition groups, who said the releases were a good sign, but fell short of real change.

"The government presents it as a humanitarian gesture toward prisoners, not as the release of political prisoners," said Manuel Cuesta Morúa, leader of the Council for Democratic Transition in Cuba, the island's main opposition platform. "By doing so, it mixes things up to avoid giving the impression that it recognizes political imprisonment in Cuba."

The group has demanded a government amnesty law and says that people who were previously freed are often placed under house arrest or live under conditions where they can't speak freely.

During aprevious release of 51 people in March, organizations monitoring prisons in Cuba noted that 22 had political motives in their cases.

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The nongovernmental organization Justicia 11J wrote in a statement Friday that no partial release can be considered progress "as long as the criminalization of the exercise of fundamental rights persists."

"Although every release represents immediate relief, especially for families, in a context marked by the severity of conditions in the country's prisons … we warn that this gesture does not constitute a change in the repressive policy of the Cuban state," the organization said.

US pressure on Cuba

The releases come as U.S.-Cuban tensions are running high. The Trump administration has suffocated the island by imposing an oil blockade,pushing the already stricken island to the brink, crippling hospitals and increasing the number of islandwide blackouts.

Cubans were offered a brief moment of relief this week when U.S. President Donald Trump said the government allowed a Russian ship carrying a nine to 10 day supply of fuel to the island. It wasn't clear if the Cuban or Russian governments made any concessions to allow the shipment to go through. Asecond Russian tankeris on the way.

Cuba periodically frees prisoners at key moments.

In January 2025, Cuba's government released 553 prisoners as part of talks with the Vatican, a day after the Biden administrationannounced its intent to lift the U.S. designationof the island nation as a state sponsor of terrorism.

Cuba's government said Friday's release marked the fifth since 2011, and that it has freed more than 11,000 people.

Despite ongoing uncertainty, scenes of hope emerged outside the La Lima prison on Friday as families wrapped their arms around each other and a father planted a kiss on the head of his child swaddled in pink.

Damián Fariñas, 20, who has served the majority of his 2-year prison sentence for a robbery, was greeted by three beaming friends waiting for him on the street.

"This is freedom, a pardon, owing nothing to anyone. I'm heading out into the world," he said.

Associated Press journalists Ramón Espinosa and Ariel Fernández contributed from Havana. Megan Janetsky contributed from Mexico City.

Follow AP's coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean athttps://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

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As freed prisoners celebrate in Cuba, human rights groups demand clarity and release of protesters

HAVANA (AP) — Katia Arias buzzed with hope on Friday morning as she gathered at the gates of a prison on the outskirts of...

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Mel B says Spice Girls documentary could happen, but 'not everybody wants to be honest'

Netflix is interested in aSpice Girlsdocumentary, but pulling back the curtain might just be "too much" for certain members.

Melanie "Mel B" Brown, a.k.a. Scary Spice, seemingly confirmed the rumors that the streaming platform had approached the iconic 1990s girl group — and she hinted at what's potentially holding up the project.

"I think we've all been asked and were all thinking about it at some point," Brown revealed in a new interview withHELLO!. "But it has to be done in the right way, and it has to be honest — and not everybody wants to be honest."

Brown doesn't specify who that "not everybody" might be — though the "Girl Power" group's dynamics have always been, well, spicy. Geri "Ginger Spice" Halliwell abruptly quit the group in 1998 at the height of their success and right in the middle of their first global tour.

A decade later, all five members reunited for a tour across the United States and Europe. But 10 years later, Victoria "Posh Spice" Beckham did not join the group for their2019 reunion tourin the U.K.

For the 30th anniversary of the group's 1996 debut single, "Wannabe," fansreally reallywanted the Spice Girls to announce a reunion tour. But all hope was recently dashed when both Brown and Melanie "Mel C" Chisholm (a.k.a. "Sporty Spice") publiclydispelled the rumors.

"I can tell you it's not happening," Mel B confirms to HELLO!.

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"If it does, it'll be a shock to me, let's put it that way," continued theAmerica's Got Talentjudge. "When I look at that [touring] and at the feeling it gave me, I was in my element, but there comes a time… I'm 50. You can't be nagging everyone to go on tour if they don't want to. I laid that to rest when I turned 50."

But what if the other four Spice Girls did ultimately say they'd be there?

"I honestly don't know," admits Mel B. "I've got a lot of respect and love for those girls. I wouldn't be sitting here if it wasn't for me being part of the Spice Girls. They've done a lot for me as a person and in my life. I've got fond memories, but I don't know if I would want to go back up on stage."

Interestingly, Brown was the lone member of the group not present at the Spice Girls'most recent reunion, when Sporty, Posh, Ginger, and Emma "Baby Spice" Bunton all gathered in February to sing their 1998 ballad "Viva Forever" with Beckham's son Cruz on acoustic guitar.

Despite the ups and downs of the quintet's 30-year friendship, it will always be "Viva Forever," says Mel B.

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"I can't even begin to tell you what our bond is — it's just something that will always be there," she tells HELLO!. "We're like family; our umbilical cords are all tied together."

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