Global Pulse

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  • Samsung workers rally in South Korea, demanding higher pay and threatening to strike

    Samsung workers rally in South Korea, demanding higher pay and threatening to strike

    In the heart of Samsung Electronics’ flagship Pyeongtaek chip manufacturing complex in South Korea, tens of thousands of unionized workers gathered in a mass public rally on Thursday, throwing their weight behind demands for transparent compensation and higher performance bonuses amid an unprecedented AI-driven surge in global memory chip profits. Organizers said around 40,000 union members participated in the demonstration, where attendees carried hand-painted signs and unfurled large banners, chanting calls for the removal of arbitrary bonus caps while a large contingent of local police monitored the gathering to maintain order. Official crowd estimates from law enforcement were not released immediately after the event.

    The demonstration came just hours after Samsung’s cross-country competitor SK Hynix announced jaw-dropping quarterly financial results, posting all-time record highs for both revenue and operating profit in the first three months of the year. SK Hynix leadership directly attributed the explosive growth to soaring global demand for high-end memory chips, fueled by widespread investments in artificial intelligence infrastructure, including data centers that power large language models and generative AI services.

    Together, Samsung and SK Hynix control roughly two-thirds of the entire global memory chip market, placing the two South Korean firms at the center of the AI boom reshaping the global technology economy. Earlier this month, Samsung forecast its own first-quarter operating profit would hit a record 57.2 trillion South Korean won, equal to roughly $38.6 billion, outstripping the 37.6 trillion won ($25.4 billion) that SK Hynix reported Thursday. Samsung’s larger profit forecast also reflects its more diversified business portfolio, which includes leading market positions in consumer smartphones and home electronics beyond its semiconductor division.

    The Samsung Electronics union, which represents 74,000 workers across the company’s operations, has argued that frontline employees have been shut out of the massive windfall generated by the AI boom. Union leaders have rejected management’s current compensation proposal, which includes restricted stock as part of bonus packages, and are pushing hard to eliminate the formal cap the company places on performance-based bonus payouts.

    If negotiations between the union and Samsung management fail to resolve the dispute by mid-May, the union has threatened to launch an unprecedented 18-day full strike starting May 21. Union officials estimate that a sustained work stoppage would cost the company more than 1 trillion won, or roughly $676 million, in lost revenue every single day the strike continues. Speaking to the crowd from an elevated platform mounted on a crane, union leader Choi Seung-ho reaffirmed the group’s commitment to its demands, telling attendees, “We won’t stop this fight until our fair demands are met.”

    While the AI boom has delivered unprecedented profits to the world’s leading memory chip manufacturers, industry leaders still face growing uncertainty in the months ahead. Ongoing conflict in the Middle East has disrupted global supply chains for critical chipmaking inputs, most notably helium, and has pushed up global energy costs, casting a shadow over the strong short-term growth outlook for the sector.

  • Russian oil to Slovakia resumes flowing through pipeline that crosses Ukraine

    Russian oil to Slovakia resumes flowing through pipeline that crosses Ukraine

    BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA – Three months after Russian oil deliveries through the key Druzhba pipeline were unexpectedly halted, supplies have finally resumed flowing to Slovakia, the country’s economy chief confirmed Thursday. The resumption of oil transit, which got underway at 2 a.m. local time, brings an end to a tense standoff that has rippled across European Union politics and strained ties between Kyiv and two of its neighboring EU states. The disruption, which began back in January, put Hungary and Slovakia at sharp odds with Ukraine, worsening an already fraught geopolitical environment on the continent. Unlike the vast majority of European Union member states that have drastically cut their reliance on Russian fossil fuels since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, both Central European nations have retained deep dependence on Russian crude for their domestic energy systems. When the cross-border pipeline crossing Ukrainian territory was shut down, the two governments quickly placed blame on Kyiv, accusing Ukrainian authorities of dragging their feet on repairs to the damaged section of infrastructure. The halt in deliveries triggered tangible political fallout across the bloc: Hungary moved to block a large-scale EU financial aid package designed to support Ukraine’s war effort, while Slovakia publicly refused to back a new round of proposed European sanctions targeting Moscow until pipeline operations returned to normal. After weeks of diplomatic wrangling and technical work, the flow of oil is once again moving along the strategic route, bringing a temporary resolution to a dispute that threatened to undermine EU unity on policy toward Russia.

  • UK, France agree three-year deal to stop migrant crossings

    UK, France agree three-year deal to stop migrant crossings

    After months of tense negotiations over border security, the United Kingdom and France have formally announced a new three-year bilateral agreement aimed at halting dangerous unauthorized migrant crossings of the English Channel in small vessels. The accord, which renewes and updates the 2018 Sandhurst Treaty set to expire this year, marks a major new step in addressing a long-running contentious issue that has roiled domestic politics on both sides of the Channel.

    Under the terms of the new deal, France has committed to expanding its coastal law enforcement presence by more than 50 percent, with a target of 1,400 active officers deployed to border patrols by 2029. To support these expanded efforts, the UK will provide up to 766 million euros (equivalent to $897 million) in funding, though roughly 24 percent of this total allocation is tied to performance conditions. Even if the conditional portion of funding is not released, the UK’s guaranteed core contribution of 580 million euros still represents a 40 million euro increase over the funding level agreed in the last iteration of the treaty.

    The months-long negotiation process was shaped by longstanding disagreements between the two neighboring countries. The UK has repeatedly criticized France for insufficient action to stop asylum seekers and irregular migrants from departing French shores, a gap that has allowed people smuggling networks to operate and pushed migrants to take increasingly life-threatening risks to avoid detection. Ahead of a new agreement, London insisted that any renewal of the Sandhurst Treaty would require the ability to attach performance conditions to how British taxpayer funds are used by French authorities.

    British Prime Minister Keir Starmer framed the agreement as a historic breakthrough for UK border security, noting that existing bilateral cooperation “already stopped tens of thousands of crossings.” He added that “this historic agreement means we can go further: ramping up intelligence, surveillance and boots on the ground to protect Britain’s borders.” UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood echoed that framing, stating that “This landmark deal will stop illegal migrants making the perilous journey and put people smugglers behind bars.” Mahmood and French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez are scheduled to unveil further operational details of the plan Thursday during a visit to the site of a planned deportation accommodation center in Loon-Plage, near Dunkirk.

    Per terms outlined in a French interior ministry document outlining the agreement, if the new measures fail to deliver “sufficient results” — as determined by a joint annual assessment — unspent conditional funding will be redirected to alternative anti-smuggling and border control initiatives.

    Beyond increased foot patrols, the deal’s roadmap outlines plans for France to deploy new technological resources, including drones, helicopters and digital surveillance tools, to disrupt smuggling operations before departures. The agreement reflects a key constraint of international maritime law: once a small vessel has left shore, authorities may only intervene to rescue migrants from drowning, rather than turning them back to France.

    The new deal comes at a critical political juncture for Prime Minister Starmer, who took office recently and faces intense domestic pressure to curb unauthorized immigration. His government is currently mired in a growing political scandal over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to the United States, over Mandelson’s longstanding personal ties to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Starmer’s political standing and the future of his Labour Party are widely seen as tied to the party’s performance in upcoming May local elections, with recent polling suggesting Labour faces significant projected losses.

    Official data underscores the scale of the challenge the new agreement aims to address. Official UK statistics show that 41,472 people crossed the Channel to reach the UK illegally via small boat in 2025, marking the second-highest annual total on record since large-scale crossings began in 2018. An AFP tally compiled from official French and British sources confirms that at least 29 migrants died attempting the crossing in 2025. French officials have pushed back against UK criticism, noting that unauthorized arrivals to the UK have halved in early 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, and that French law enforcement arrested roughly 480 suspected people smugglers across 2025.

  • ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2′ puts a spotlight on Italy’s fashion capital

    ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2′ puts a spotlight on Italy’s fashion capital

    MILAN (AP) — As ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ prepares for its Italian premiere in the country’s iconic fashion capital on Thursday, the luxury Italian brand Prada takes pride of place in the film’s title, while the global fashion industry steps into the broader spotlight and Milan itself claims a key supporting role. Though the motion picture draws its name from the legendary fashion house that has become inseparable from Milan’s identity, the story does not center on the century-old brand itself. To pay homage to the franchise’s deep ties to the label, both lead star Meryl Streep and Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour donned Prada designs for a recent Vogue cover celebrating the new film, which follows the story of a notoriously demanding high-fashion editor.

  • 2 trains collide in Denmark, prompting a massive emergency response north of Copenhagen

    2 trains collide in Denmark, prompting a massive emergency response north of Copenhagen

    A collision between two passenger trains in northern Denmark early Thursday has sparked a large-scale emergency deployment, with authorities describing the incident as a serious major accident. The crash unfolded at approximately 6:30 a.m. in the vicinity of Hillerød, a town located roughly 40 kilometers, or 25 miles, north of Denmark’s capital city Copenhagen.

    A spokesperson for North Zealand police confirmed that all passengers and crew have been successfully evacuated from both damaged trains. As of the latest update, officials have declined to release any information regarding the count of injured people or the severity of harm sustained by those involved in the collision.

    Visual imagery captured at the accident site shows significant destruction to the front carriages of both trains, with the crumpled front ends clearly visible. Despite the heavy impact, both trains have remained upright on their rail tracks, avoiding a more catastrophic derailment.

    Trine Egetved, mayor of the nearby municipality Gribskov, shared preliminary details about the incident in a public post on her official Facebook page. Egetved confirmed that a number of injured people from the crash were airlifted to nearby hospitals for urgent medical treatment. She also noted that the collision took place on a busy local commuter line that hundreds of Gribskov residents rely on daily, including commuting workers and students traveling to schools in the region. As of Thursday morning, no further details on the cause of the crash, identity of those involved, or updated injury counts had been released by investigating authorities.

  • Queensland Police recall service-issued Glock handguns after major safety malfunction detected

    Queensland Police recall service-issued Glock handguns after major safety malfunction detected

    Queensland Police Service (QPS) has announced a full recall of every service-issued Glock handgun across the entire state for urgent safety testing, after a potentially dangerous malfunction was uncovered during routine proactive weapons inspections. The safety review of the QPS’ entire firearms fleet was already in progress when inspectors identified the defect: under specific conditions, the weapon can discharge multiple rounds with a single trigger pull, a flaw that puts both officers and members of the public at unnecessary risk.

    In an official public statement, QPS confirmed that it has moved to accelerate expanded testing across every regional command and operational division, prioritizing the recall to guarantee that all weapons in active use meet mandatory safety standards. At the time of the announcement, the service stressed that no operational accidents or injuries have been linked to the weapon defect to date.

    The recall process will see all issued handguns collected for comprehensive testing. Firearms that pass the rigorous new inspection regime will be returned to frontline officers for active duty. Any weapons that fail to meet QPS safety requirements will be immediately withdrawn from service and retained by authorities. QPS added that it is already collaborating directly with Glock suppliers to develop a full resolution for the identified issue, aiming to restore the full complement of service weapons as quickly and safely as possible.

  • ‘Catastrophic’ Melbourne Airport near-misses only avoided by ‘good luck’ after international airliners take off metres from active worksite

    ‘Catastrophic’ Melbourne Airport near-misses only avoided by ‘good luck’ after international airliners take off metres from active worksite

    Australia’s aviation sector has been forced to confront critical gaps in safety protocols after a long-awaited official investigation concluded that two alarming near-collisions at one of the country’s busiest international hubs avoided catastrophe last year through nothing more than sheer good fortune. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) released its final public report on Thursday, detailing the two separate September 2023 incidents that unfolded at Melbourne Airport, Victoria’s primary international gateway, when runway construction work left a section of the takeoff strip drastically shortened.

    The first incident occurred on September 7, when a Malaysia Airlines wide-body Airbus A330-300, bound for Kuala Lumpur with hundreds of passengers on board, exited the usable length of the temporary runway during its departure takeoff roll. After overshooting the marked end of the available runway, the large commercial jet climbed just 7 meters above an active construction worksite, where heavy machinery and ground personnel were working below.

    In response to this first close call, Melbourne Airport leadership launched an internal risk review and implemented incremental safety adjustments, including updating internal communication protocols and issuing a general safety alert to all airlines operating at the facility. But just 11 days later, a second nearly identical incident unfolded: a Bamboo Airways Boeing 787-9 en route to Hanoi also overran the same shortened runway, clearing the construction site by an even slimmer margin of only 5 meters.

    In its official statement accompanying the final report, the ATSB confirmed that on both occasions, powerful jet blast from the departing aircraft directly impacted the active work zone, where workers and heavy vehicles were present. While no ground personnel suffered physical injuries in either incident, one worker developed a stress-related injury following the second close call.

    Investigators found that information about the reduced runway length had been correctly distributed to the aviation community, including being broadcast over radio frequency and included in routine Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS) updates received by both flight crews. However, ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell explained that neither flight crew recognized just how drastically the runway’s usable length had been reduced. “While both crews accessed a version of the ATIS that mentioned the shortened runway, they only noted to air traffic control the weather information from the ATIS, and not the reduced runway length,” Mitchell said.

    Further investigation revealed that while flight dispatchers at both airlines had adjusted their performance calculations to account for the shorter runway, the adjustment was not explicitly flagged in the pre-flight briefing materials provided to the operating crews. The ATSB noted this oversight was likely rooted in the fact that both aircraft were fully capable of departing safely from the shortened runway if correct power settings were applied. Nonetheless, the missed alert led both crews to plan their takeoffs using the original full runway length, and set reduced thrust settings for departure, resulting in the overruns.

    Legal experts have sharply criticized the systemic gaps exposed by the investigation. Peter Carter, director of Australian law firm Carter Capner Law, emphasized that the incidents exposed basic failures in core aviation safety procedures. “These are basic requirements even for day one students,” Carter said, noting that pilots are obligated to review NOTAMs (notices to airmen) and cross-check all ATIS safety information before departure. He added that a catastrophic collision would have killed more than 350 passengers and crew, along with any workers on the ground, and left a permanent stain on Australia’s already-tarnished aviation safety record. “A catastrophic event was avoided only by good luck,” Carter said. “It could have resulted in a 350-person fireball.”

    In the wake of the ATSB’s findings, both Malaysia Airlines and Bamboo Airways have committed to updating their internal flight dispatcher procedures and pre-flight briefing guidance to prevent similar oversights. Australia’s national air navigation provider Airservices Australia and the country’s civil aviation regulator Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) have also proposed revisions to protocols for communicating safety-critical information related to runway construction projects.

    Mitchell closed by outlining long-term safety changes that could prevent similar near-misses globally, arguing that prominent visual markings, such as the signage proposed for inclusion in ICAO Annex 14, the international body’s standards for airport design, can serve as a critical final safety net to alert crews to changed runway conditions when the altered layout would otherwise look normal from the air. “Flight dispatchers, aircraft operators, airport operators, individual air traffic controllers, air traffic services providers and others can all contribute to ensuring pilots are aware of safety‑critical information when they need it,” Mitchell said.

  • Taiwan minister makes rare visit to disputed South China Sea island

    Taiwan minister makes rare visit to disputed South China Sea island

    Against a backdrop of escalating geopolitical friction across the South China Sea and adjacent waters, a senior Taiwanese official has carried out a high-profile, uncommon visit to Taiwan-controlled Itu Aba — also known as Taiping Island — to oversee regional coast guard training exercises.

    Ocean Affairs Minister Kuan Bi-ling personally oversaw two types of drills on the contested islet: humanitarian search-and-rescue operations and full-scale medical evacuation simulations. The training also included a live-interception scenario, where armed coast guard personnel responded to an unresponsive suspicious cargo vessel. Released coast guard footage shows heavily equipped special operations units breaching the vessel’s control room to secure the scene.

    Itu Aba, the largest naturally formed island in the Spratly Islands chain, spans 46 hectares and is currently home to a permanent population of roughly 200 residents. The islet hosts critical infrastructure including a working airstrip and a full-service hospital, but its status remains a flashpoint for competing territorial claims. In addition to Taiwan’s ongoing administration, Beijing, Hanoi and Manila all assert full sovereignty over the land feature.

    This visit unfolds at a moment of heightened regional military activity. At the time of Kuan’s trip, the United States and the Philippines were conducting their largest-ever joint military exercises across Philippine territory, a move that triggered sharp pushback from Beijing. In response to the US-Philippines drills, China deployed a newly commissioned amphibious warship to the South China Sea and sailed one of its active aircraft carriers through the nearby Taiwan Strait. Cross-Strait tensions also frame the dispute: China claims the self-governing island of Taiwan as an inalienable part of its territory, a position Taiwan’s government rejects outright.

    The 2016 international arbitration ruling initiated by the Philippines reclassified Itu Aba as a “rock” rather than a full island under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. This classification restricts claimed resource rights to just a 12-nautical-mile exclusive zone around the islet, instead of the 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone that would be granted if it were recognized as a full island. Both Taipei and Beijing rejected the ruling outright and have refused to recognize the arbitration outcome. In 2024, Taiwan’s then-foreign minister Joseph Wu issued a stark warning that China had already constructed large-scale military installations across areas surrounding Itu Aba, further shifting the regional military balance in Beijing’s favor.

  • AFL 2026: St Kilda forward Lance Collard is challenging his nine-match ban

    AFL 2026: St Kilda forward Lance Collard is challenging his nine-match ban

    An Australian Football League (AFL) player is taking one final stand to reverse what his legal team calls an excessively harsh and unprecedented suspension over an alleged homophobic slur, with his appeal hearing scheduled for Thursday evening.

    Lance Collard, a 21-year-old forward for St Kilda, was handed a nine-match ban last week after the AFL Tribunal found him guilty of conduct unbecoming. The charge stemmed from an on-field incident where he was accused of directing a homophobic slur at an opponent from the Frankston team during a match. Collard has consistently denied using the slur, claiming the word he shouted was a different insult — he says he called Darby Hipwell, his former Sandringham teammate, a “maggot”.

    This is not the first disciplinary issue for Collard: he already served a six-match suspension in 2024 for the same type of alleged homophobic slur offense. Two of the nine matches in the current ban are tied to an existing two-game suspension he received for a striking offense in the same match, meaning the new penalty for the slur itself accounts for the bulk of the suspension.

    During the original tribunal hearing, Collard’s defense led by Michael Borsky KC argued the young player was physically jostled, roughed up and subjected to verbal abuse from opposing Frankston players before the alleged incident. Borsky described the nine-match ban as unfairly punitive, warning it could be a life-altering “sliding doors” decision that would effectively end Collard’s promising AFL career, which to date includes 15 senior-level appearances. He also noted that no player in league history has ever received a suspension of this length for a homophobic slur offense, marking the penalty as unprecedented. Borsky additionally requested that any new suspension be served concurrently with the existing striking ban, given the entire incident was triggered by the initial on-field collision and subsequent melee.

    The Australian Football League Players’ Association (AFLPA) has publicly thrown its support behind Collard throughout the process, with chief executive James Gallagher releasing a formal statement last week reaffirming that backing.

    Gallagher acknowledged that the entire AFL industry shares the common goal of eliminating homophobia from the sport, but noted the case highlights critical flaws in the current disciplinary framework. “The Tribunal has, rightly, acknowledged that issues such as racism and homophobia are difficult and sensitive issues and the manner of dealing with them is not enhanced if the starting point is a fierce debate over whether the words were used,” he said.

    “Lance has maintained his innocence, and this has been consistent throughout. We’re disappointed the Tribunal did not accept that evidence. We’ll continue to fully support him and the club through this process including exploring any options to appeal.”

    Gallagher added that meaningful long-term change requires a holistic approach, not just harsh punitive measures. He argued that lasting progress requires collaborative engagement with LGBTIQA+ community leaders, targeted education that centers the diverse backgrounds and experiences of players, and a disciplinary process that is fit for purpose: one that reduces harm, remedies harm when it occurs, and drives lasting behavioral change. He noted that through collective bargaining agreements, the AFLPA has already negotiated a shared commitment with the AFL to advance equality, inclusion and safety for all people in the sport, and work on these commitments remains ongoing. He also acknowledged the far-reaching impact of the case on all stakeholders, including the LGBTIQA+ community, First Nations communities, and Collard and his family.

    The appeal hearing on Thursday will mark Collard’s final opportunity to overturn or reduce the historic ban, with the outcome set to shape not only his career but also potential future debates around how the AFL handles on-field discriminatory language. This story remains developing, with further updates expected after the appeal board delivers its decision.

  • Who are the players to watch at the NFL Draft?

    Who are the players to watch at the NFL Draft?

    The annual NFL Draft, one of American football’s most anticipated off-season events, rarely lacks unscripted drama – and the 2026 iteration, kicking off this week, is already shaping up to deliver plenty of twists alongside the high-stakes roster moves. Coming off 2025’s shocking draft slide of pre-draft favorite Shedeur Sanders, who tumbled from projected first overall to a fifth-round selection, this year’s event is already centered on a clear frontrunner for the top pick, with plenty of compelling storylines unfolding beyond that first selection.

    Spanning three days across seven rounds, the 2026 draft will see 257 collegiate and international prospects selected by the league’s 32 franchises. Selection order is determined by reversing the previous season’s win-loss standings, giving the club with the worst record the first pick, while the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks claim the final selection in every round. This year, four teams finished the 2025 campaign with identical 3-14 records, and the Las Vegas Raiders claimed the first overall pick via a strength-of-schedule tiebreaker – a rule that slots the New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, and Tennessee Titans in the next three spots after the Raiders.

    The Raiders hold a clear positional need at quarterback, and all signs point to them selecting Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza with the top pick. The 22-year-old signal-caller, who completed three seasons at the University of California before transferring to Indiana ahead of the 2025 collegiate season, led the Hoosiers to their first-ever national championship and capped his season with college football’s highest individual honor. If selected first overall, Mendoza will join an elite club of players that includes Cam Newton (2011) and Joe Burrow (2020), who earned Heisman honors, a national title, and the first overall draft selection in the same calendar year. Unlike last year’s draft, which saw six quarterbacks taken in the first 12 picks, 2026’s prospect class is shallow at the position. Analysts widely project Mendoza could be the only quarterback selected on the first day of the draft, with Alabama’s Ty Simpson the only other signal-caller seen as a possible first-round pick. Other notable QB prospects include Georgia transfer Carson Beck, who boosted his stock after leading Miami to the national championship game after a lackluster regular season, athletic standout Cole Payton, who is drawing comparisons to utility hybrid Taysom Hill, and 5-foot-10 Diego Pavia, who defied expectations as Vanderbilt’s Heisman Trophy runner-up and is projected as a promising late-round gamble. Unlike many top prospects, Mendoza has chosen to forgo the on-stage green room experience in Pittsburgh to celebrate the milestone with his family in Miami.

    Beyond quarterback, the 2026 draft class is deepest along the defensive front, where a host of elite prospects are expected to be selected early. Pass rushers Arvell Reese, David Bailey, and Rueben Bain Jr are all projected to come off the board within the first 10 picks, while defensive tackle Lee Hunter – nicknamed “The Fridge 2.0” – has seen his draft stock skyrocket after a strong performance and impressive interviews at the NFL Combine. The Ohio State Buckeyes, 2024 national champions, send five prospects to the top of this year’s draft board, with four expected to land in the first round. The class also features solid depth at wide receiver, led by Makai Lemon and Jordyn Tyson, while Jeremiyah Love – one of Mendoza’s fellow 2025 Heisman finalists – is the highest-rated running back available. This year’s draft also includes two pairs of non-twin brothers (Lorenzo Styles Jr and Sonny Styles, plus Logan and Spencer Fano) that could both hear their names called over the three-day event.

    A feel-good underdog story highlights this year’s international prospect cohort, which enters the draft via the NFL’s International Player Pathway (IPP) program, launched in 2017 to give non-collegiate prospects from around the globe a shot at the league. Twenty-two-year-old offensive tackle Max Iheanachor, who moved to the U.S. from Nigeria at age 13, only began playing organized football five years ago, but has already developed into a 6-foot-6, 321-pound prospect with a pre-printed tattoo of the NFL logo on his body, and is projected to sneak into the first round. Fellow Nigerian prospect Uar Bernand, a 21-year-old defensive player, also turned heads through the IPP’s 10-week training camp, posting elite testing numbers that have left scouts impressed; though he remains raw and inexperienced, one franchise is expected to take a late-round flier on him, following in the footsteps of successful IPP alums like Jordan Mailata and Travis Clayton.

    For the first time since 1948, the 2026 NFL Draft is hosted by Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which has rebranded itself “Picksburgh” for the week-long celebration of football. Up to 700,000 fans are expected to attend the free public event, which will host activities across the city, with the main draft stage and selection theater set up on the North Shore outside Acrisure Stadium, the home of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The first round kicks off Thursday at 8 p.m. ET (1 a.m. BST Friday), with a new rule shaving two minutes off the first-round selection clock, dropping it from 10 minutes to eight to speed up play. Rounds two and three will be held Friday, with the final four rounds concluding Saturday.